Plans announced to make Auckland's Waiheke Island free of fossil fuels by 2030

Friday, 30 November 2018

Electric Vehicle Waiheke spokesman Vern Whitehead said Waiheke is tailor-made for EVs, with the roads running out before a car's power supply.

Waiheke Island has 12 years to ditch fossil fuelled vehicles in its hope to become the first residential island to go electric.

Electric Vehicle Waiheke announced on Friday its plan to only have electric vehicles on the island by 2030.

Spokesman Vern Whitehead said it would have economic and environmental benefits for Waiheke.

'Waiheke has some of the dearest petrol in New Zealand and this is hurting the most vulnerable families in our community,' Whitehead said.

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'Our vision is to transition the island to cheap clean electric energy for all vehicles and equipment by 2030, becoming the first major residential island in the world to achieve this goal.

'Waiheke is tailor-made for EVs with its limited roading network and short distances being travelled by tradies and commuters every day. On Waiheke the road runs out before your power does.'

Waiheke Local Board member John Meeuwsen said there was a lot of talk on the island about electric vehicles.

Whitehead said there was currently about 80 EVs on the island out of 7000 vehicles, making up just 1 per cent of the island's fleet.

He said the island was starting from quite a low base but there would be 'plenty of affordable second-hand EVS in the market' by 2030.

Whitehead said the vision would also bring economic benefits with the island having the lowest overall cost of transport in New Zealand.

Waiheke Local Board member John Meeuswen said the board hadn't discussed the idea formally but was 'very, very keen' and believed the 2030 target was achievable.

'It's all about carbon reduction and environmental concern,' Meeuswen said.

'As a board, we are very environmentally sensitive.'

Meeuswen said he drove an EV himself and there was a lot of talk on the island about electric vehicles.

'I think there is a head of steam coming along, we are even hearing serious talk about electric ferry's in the next decade.'

He said there was a lot of diesel burning old buses on the island and the board would be 'seriously welcoming' of smaller electric buses.

The support of locals would come down to practicality and costs involved with electric vehicles but Meeuswen said they would be welcome to ideas.