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\nPhoto: 123RF\n<\/p>\n
The government is considering scrapping the clean car standard altogether, months after slashing the fees importers pay to bring dirty vehicles into the country.<\/p>\n
An EV advocate said if the proposal goes ahead, New Zealanders will be sold “the high-emitting leftovers” that manufacturers can no longer sell in Australia.<\/p>\n
The Motor Industry Association said it wants to keep the standard, but it needs “recalibration” to make sure it works for importers, car distributors, and consumers.<\/p>\n
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the government is carrying out a first principles review, so “obviously” an option to scrap the standard is on the table.<\/p>\n
Introduced by the previous government, the Clean Vehicle Standard charges importers a penalty for cars that exceed the target emissions level, but that can be offset by also importing cars with lower emissions.<\/p>\n
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\nTransport Minister Chris Bishop.
\nPhoto: RNZ\/Marika Khabazi\n<\/p>\n
That penalty was slashed by nearly 80 percent last November, with Bishop saying supply constraints meant importers could not source enough low-emissions vehicles to avoid being penalised.<\/p>\n
That could result in thousands of extra dollars being passed on to buyers, Bishop said.<\/p>\n
He said then that a full review of the standard would follow this year but it was unlikely the standard would be removed entirely.<\/p>\n
RNZ has learned that a targeted consultation carried out for that review has just ended, which included asking submitters whether the standard should be “abolished”.<\/p>\n
The consultation included the motor vehicle industry, international bodies, other government agencies, some advocacy groups, and subject matter experts, but was not open to the public.<\/p>\n
In a letter seeking submissions, the Transport Ministry said the review was being carried out in two stages.<\/p>\n
Stage one was “a first principles review of the standard … to enable Cabinet to decide to either retain the standard or abolish it”.<\/p>\n
Submitters were asked if they supported New Zealand retaining a fuel efficiency standard, and what the risks would be if it was abolished.<\/p>\n
It would make New Zealand just one of two OECD countries to not have a vehicle emissions standard – the other is Russia.<\/p>\n
Bishop said he had not received advice on the review, but would have more to say once the government had considered it and made decisions.<\/p>\n
“If legislative change is required, I expect there would be a select committee process and public submissions.”<\/p>\n
Drive Electric was among EV advocacy groups asked to submit.<\/p>\n
“We’re really alarmed that there’s the potential of removing the standard completely, because the rest of the world is going in the other direction,” chairwoman Kirsten Corson said.<\/p>\n
Australia had just reported the first six months of data<\/a> since making its fuel efficiency standard mandatory, she said.<\/p>\n “Their overall emissions are dropping, and two-thirds of the car-makers could meet the 2025 emissions targets.”<\/p>\n The changes in New Zealand were due to “spectacular lobbying by some high-emissions vehicle importers”, Corson said.<\/p>\n “It’s interesting that it’s working perfectly well in Australia.”<\/p>\n Drive Electric’s submission warned that Australia’s success made it even more likely that New Zealand would become a “dumping-ground” for less efficient cars.<\/p>\n “This ‘gravity effect’ ensures that while Australians get the latest, most efficient technology from Thailand and Japan, New Zealanders are sold the high-emitting leftovers.”<\/p>\n The government’s claim that car-buyers would be charged thousands of dollars more if the penalties had not been cut was “a false economy”, Corson said.<\/p>\n “[Higher-emissions cars] are a cheaper price to purchase but they cost more to own and more to operate.<\/p>\n