Supporting hydrogen vehicles uptake
Converting heavy transport away from fossil fuels is a key step in reducing emissions. To support the uptake of hydrogen vehicles, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has been working with several New Zealand firms on hydrogen demonstration projects through the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund (LEVCF), its successor the Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF), and the government’s $3 billion ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure programme.
The Government has:
- Funded Ports of Auckland $160,000 as part of round 5 of the LEVCF to purchase and trial a hydrogen fuel-cell bus as part of the wider hydrogen demonstration project in Auckland.
- Funded Hyundai Motors New Zealand $500,000, as part of round 9 of the LEVCF, to purchase and deploy a fleet of 5 medium duty hydrogen trucks.
- Loaned Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand $16 million to establish a hydrogen refuelling network, as part of the $3 billion ‘shovel ready’ infrastructure programme.
- Funded TR Group $4 million in co-funding from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund along with an additional $2 million in co-funding from EECA to purchase up to 20 heavy freight hydrogen trucks. TR Group will lease the trucks to its customers and use Hiringa’s hydrogen refuelling network.
- Funded Kiwi H2 Ltd, as part of Round 1 of the LETF to convert two diesel trucks to run on 40% hydrogen, using an exclusively licensed dual fuel product from the United Kingdom. This will help fleets decarbonise until commercially available and viable 100% zero-emission options are available in New Zealand.
Through the Low Emissions Transport Fund, up to $25 million a year of funding is available to support the development of low emissions technology, innovation and infrastructure. This fund builds on the now complete Low Emissions Vehicles Contestable Fund.
Low Emissions Transport Fund(external link) — Te Tari Tiaki Pūngao Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
In 2019, the Ministry of Transport initiated the Green freight project, which looks specifically at the role alternative green fuels—electricity, green hydrogen and biofuels—could play in reducing emissions from heavy vehicles carrying freight on New Zealand’s roads.
‘Green Freight: 2020’, a strategic working paper which incorporated stakeholder feedback from the ‘Green Freight Background Paper’ was released in May 2020. The working paper outlines options the Government could implement over the next 15 years.
Green Freight project(external link) — Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport