New figures obtained by Labour show that the National Government has left the handbrake on over its purchasing of electric vehicles, with less than 0.4 per cent of its All-Of-Government Panel purchases being EVs since Minister Simon Bridges announced that the Government was 'driving the switch to electric vehicles”.

'Just eight electric vehicles have been purchased in the six months since Minister Bridges made his commitment, among the 2039 vehicles purchased by the Government's procurement panel in that period,” says Labour's Transport Spokesperson Sue Moroney.

'It is a wasted opportunity for the Government to use its purchasing power to increase the viability of EVs in New Zealand.

'This failure comes on the back of the decision a few weeks ago to ditch electric freight trains for diesel trains on the main trunk line – it's a backwards trend when New Zealand has committed to reducing carbon emissions.

'Buying less than 0.4 per cent of the government fleet in EVs is even more pitiful than their plan to only have 2 per cent EVs in the country's fleet by 2021.

'The Government can't even lead by example to reach that tiny target itself.

'No number of photos of a grinning Simon Bridges with electric vehicles will hide the fact that KiwiRail has ditched Electric Locos for diesel under his watch and that his Government is failing to lead the switch to EVs.”

SOURCE: Office of Sue Moroney