The road to discounting electric cars for low-income families is likely to be bumpy, some in the industry are warning.
Low-income families who scrap their old cars will get funding to buy a low-emitting vehicle in a $569 million scheme, one of the big-ticket items in the Government's first Emissions Reductions Plan.
The money will not just be for electric vehicles - it could also help buy an e-bike or could be in the form of public transport vouchers.
But very little detail was released about the scheme, such as who exactly will be eligible and - critically - how much financial help they would get.
But even if a similar discount was offered here, it would still be costly, and "notoriously challenging", the Motor Industry Association (MIA) said.
Chief executive David Crawford said the cost of new EV imports started at $40,000 and went to more than $80,000, whereas used models started at about $20,000.
"If it is a new EV, their prices are quite high; would [eligible people] be able to afford debt servicing the difference? The price gap for a new EV can still be big," Crawford said.
New Zealand has many old cars still being driven around; they pollute more and aren't as safe so the MIA said it supported moves to get more of them off the road.
A car industry boss wants the scheme to apply to all motorists. Photo / RNZ
The Motor Trade Association (MTA), which represents mechanics and repair shops, wants the Government to also roll out a scrappage model for everyone.
Its energy and environment manager Ian Baggott said it would be a challenge for the Government to determine the criteria for scrappage.
"[The criteria] to make sure that people don't game the system - does the vehicle need to be in a warrantable condition or have just failed its warrant [of fitness] to be eligible for scrappage? Is there an age limit? Is there a mileage limit?"
He said if the government wanted to make serious carbon emissions cuts it should tap into the whole car-owner market and provide the discount to all New Zealanders.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said the threshold would be about the median household income.
"The median household income is around about $75,000 or so - it'll be round about that level - we'll do further work to make sure that's that very specific."
Victoria University of Wellington's environmental studies Professor Ralph Chapman said - electric or not - cars were still heavy on the wallet and on the environment.
"The sheer carbon emissions associated with running cars, the life cycle of a car and all the infrastructure that goes with it - like highways and more spread-out infrastructure for water and wastewater ... when you start to add it all up, cars are pretty much a disaster."
Chapman said carbon emissions still went into making EVs and the like, as well as the emissions involved in importing them to New Zealand.
"The whole model has to change, rather than just encouraging people to go to a slightly more efficient car."
Chapman said the alternative option of scrapping an old car in return for money towards buying a bike or using public transport was a good move.
Free Fares, which is lobbying the government to make all public transport free, is also disappointed in the scheme.
A spokesperson for the group said the wider Emissions Reduction Plan was "a continuation of an individualised culture and a focus on car ownership" rather than public transport, "which is what we need".
