Ditch the photo ops Minister, and deliver on electric cars

It’s time for Transport Minister Simon Bridges to stop having photos taken of him opening electric charging stations, and deliver actual policy to get more electric vehicles on our roads, the Green Party says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges is opening another electric vehicle charging station at Bayfair Shopping Centre in Tauranga today.

“At this rate, there’ll soon be more photos of Simon Bridges opening charging stations than electric vehicles on our roads,” said Green Party Transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“Simon Bridges promised a policy package to support electric vehicles at the end of last year, but he still hasn't delivered.

“It's time for the Transport Minister to deliver his long promised electric vehicles policy, or admit he can’t get it past a Cabinet that’s stuck in the gas-guzzling 1990s.

“New Zealanders want to lead the switch to clean electric cars, powered by local energy, and end our reliance on expensive and dirty foreign oil.

“There are many real actions the National Government could be taking to support the uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand. It really shouldn't take a year and a half to come up with a policy package.

“The Green Party has already announced it would support the roll-out of a nationwide network of fast-charging stations and remove fringe benefit tax on electric vehicles for up to seven years.

“Tax breaks for businesses who choose electric cars provides a huge incentive to switch to clean electric vehicles by cutting the upfront cost of an electric car by up to 36 percent.

“Our policy would dramatically increase the number of new electric cars in New Zealand, and pave the way for a large second-hand market for electric cars, putting clean cars within almost everyone’s reach in just a few years,” said Ms Genter.

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