Scrap-and-replace scheme should extend to everyone, says MTA

The Motor Trade Association (MTA) says the Government needs to extend its recently announced scrap-and-replace EV scheme to all New Zealanders.

Monday’s Emission Reductions Plan detailed how the Government will assist low-income families transition from high-emitting vehicles to cleaner, electric alternatives.

The MTA sees the scheme as an essential step toward cleaning up New Zealand’s dirty transport sector.

However, they want to see the scrap-and-replace concept available to everyone.

“We are glad the Government has seen the benefit of a scrappage scheme, which is an important step in the transition of the national fleet to protect future generations,” Advocacy Manager Greig Epps said.

“It’s good to see that lower and middle-income households will be supported in changing to zero-emission vehicles.

“But why stop there?

“Why not make the scheme available to all New Zealanders?

“While we acknowledge that electric vehicles have a significant part to play in reaching our greenhouse gas targets, so too do low-emitting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. For some Kiwis, they are a more affordable option, even with Government support.

“ICE vehicles are going to be around for years to come, even if we weed out the clunkers. So we need to make sure they are part of the plan. Because moving to a low-emitting ICE vehicle is also a positive step people can take.”

Chairman of the Drive Electric organisation Mark Gilbert is another supporter of the scheme. But he wants to see action immediately, rather than have politicians mull about it for months in the Government chambers.

“The time for talking is now well over. It’s time to get on with executing the plan and removing emissions from transport.”

However, not everyone believes the idea is failproof.

The Motor Industry Association (MIA) says EVs will still be too expensive for some Kiwis despite Government schemes to make them cheaper.

“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,” Chief executive David Crawford said.

A sample of 2500 families will experiment with the scrap-and-replace scheme before the Government’s first expansion in two years.