Greens to invest $20m into electric vehicle fleet

Green Party co-leader, Dr Russel Norman.

The Green Party would invest $20 million into speeding the transition towards a private electric vehicle fleet, co-leader Russel Norman announced today.

Announcing the party's "cleaner, cheaper, smarter" energy policy - the final component of the Greens economic plan, Dr Norman said the party would invest $10 million into the rollout of 30 minute fast-charging stations across the country, extending the range and usability of electric cars.

The Greens would also offer a $1000 cash back payment to the first 10,000 New Zealand-new electric vehicles sold - costing another $10 million, he said.

"We'll lead by example and switch the Crown fleet to electric cars over time where there are appropriate electric vehicles available," Dr Norman said.

"Reducing our vehicle fleets' reliance on foreign imported oil is good for our economy as well as our environment. It is also great for car owners who will save on petrol bills over the life of the car."

New Zealand had endured the fifth-largest increase in power prices in real terms among the 34 OECD countries in the past 20 years, Dr Norman said.

"Put simply, we are paying far more for our electricity than it actually costs to produce.

"Establishing a single buyer for consumers ? New Zealand Power ? will drive down retail prices saving families $300 per year on their power bills."

The Greens' energy policy also included a plan to reach a 100 per cent renewable energy generation target by 2030, Dr Norman said.

The current Government's target is for 90 per cent of the nation's electricity generation to come from renewable energy sources by 2025 - providing it does not affect security

of supply.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser last week said the country's energy supply was currently 75 per cent renewable and was heading towards 90 per cent.

Dr Norman said the Greens' energy plan also included a strong price on carbon and a new Green Investment Bank, which would help direct capital away from dirty energy into clean energy generation.

The Greens' previously announced solar homes and solar schools packages would also make it easy for homes and schools to become their own clean energy power generators by making use of freely available clean energy from the sun, he said.

The plan also allowed for better energy conservation and distribution through smart grid initiatives including real time electricity pricing, limited fixed lines charges, and a fair price for surplus renewable electricity, Dr Norman said.