New Zealand’s light electric vehicle road user charge (RUC) exemption has been extended to March 31, 2024.
The news from NZ transport minister Michael Wood comes before the RUC exemption for EVs was due to end on December 31 this year and may provide a lesson for Australian regions considering a similar EV charge.
It’s estimated to save an EV owner about NZ$800 annually compared with a diesel vehicle.
Heavy EVs already have a RUC exemption until December 31, 2025.
The RUC exemption for light EVs forms part of the NZ government’s Clean Car Package, Wood adds.
“Our government is continuing to take action to tackle transport emissions to meet our 2050 carbon neutral target – part of this is helping Kiwis into cleaner cars,” he says.
“New Zealanders can save about $800 per year with this exemption, giving them another reason to make the switch to an electric vehicle.
“Given charging your electric vehicle at home off-peak is like buying petrol at around 40c/litre, there are huge savings to be made,” Wood says.
“The Clean Car Discount is also helping with the upfront cost of getting an electric vehicle, with Kiwis getting up to $8625 back in the hand.
“While the Clean Car Discount is providing support to those purchasing zero emission cars now, the exemption continues to provide support for those who bought one before the discount was announced.”
In Australia, Tasmania has ditched stamp duty on EVs for two years, while New South Wales has delayed implementing an EV RUC until July 2027 – amid a raft of EV incentives, South Australia won’t implement an EV RUC for a year and Victoria introduced a RUC on zero and low emission vehicles (ZLEVS) from July 1 of 2.5c/km driven (PHEVs 2c/km).
