About the Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund

Accelerating the uptake of low emissions transport

The Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund offers up to $6.5 million a year to projects that will accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and other low emission vehicles.

Projects are co-funded with private and public sector partners in areas where commercial returns aren’t yet strong enough to justify full private investment.

It’s a Government fund administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). It’s one of several government activities paid for via a levy on petrol and engine fuels.

One of the most effective ways to reduce our total emissions is by transitioning our fossil-fuelled transport fleet to run on clean, renewable electricity.

Objectives of the Fund

Projects selected for co-funding meet at least one of these objectives:

  • Increase the variety and supply of low emission vehicles.
  • Improve the availability of servicing or charging infrastructure in areas where demand is uneconomic or not fully developed.
  • Increase demand for low emission vehicles.
  • Develop innovative products or systems for electric vehicles.
  • Overcome barriers to uptake of LEVs and related technologies.

Scope of the Fund

Co-funded projects must involve mainstream vehicles.

These can include:

  • passenger vehicles and trucks that operate on roads used by the public
  • charging
  • other technologies that will support EV uptake.

These areas are out of scope:

Vehicles and related technologies:

  • maritime, aviation and rail vehicles
  • vehicles intended for off-road purposes such as forklifts and diggers
  • conventional and plug-in hybrid vehicles and those fuelled with biofuel (as they do not use electricity from an external source)
  • two and three wheeled vehicles, such as power-assisted cycles and motorcycles
  • electric bicycles and related secure storage for e-bikes
  • quadricycles and "neighbourhood" electric vehicles
  • electric buses and coaches
  • specialist off-road vehicles such as diggers
  • slow and medium speed AC chargers, for one or multiple businesses
  • AC charging stations at shopping malls, supermarkets and retail centres
  • car share, lease, subscription, rideshare, taxis and rental services
  • combustion engine vehicle to electric conversions, for example a diesel ute or van to electric, classic cars or vans to electric, diesel to electric trucks.

Projects and activities:

  • any activities that would represent an ongoing financial liability for EECA, such as insurance underwriting
  • projects that are purely focused on training or professional development
  • projects that are purely focused on education and information provision (this is a focus of the EECA information campaign)
  • research – being defined as original and planned investigation undertaken with the prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding
  • international travel
  • “business as usual” costs of an organisation, such as the costs associated with existing staff
  • projects with private good and/or profits, but insufficient public benefit
  • purchase of a light electric car or van instead of a conventional vehicle.

Apply for co-funding

Summaries of approved projects

  • Assessment process

    The EECA Board makes funding decisions based on recommendations from an independent assessment panel. The assessment panel is comprised of experts from the energy, transport and freight sectors.

  • Need some help?

    If you'd like to discuss a project or idea, contact us on LEVFund@eeca.govt.nz, or call Camilla Cochrane on 027 457 0205.