The Government has announced a number of procurement changes which are set to improve the availability of electric vehicles in New Zealand.

Announced on Wednesday, the amendments to the All-of-Government Vehicles contract will support the inclusion of additional electric vehicle providers and increase public sector options.

Transport Minister and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges. File Photo.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says electric vehicles are a growing industry and New Zealand should benefit from technological advances as they come onto the market.

'Following a feasibility study, New Zealand Government Procurement is inviting providers of electric vehicles to be considered for the AoG vehicles panel,” he says.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges says the Procurement initiative is part of the Government-industry plan to accelerate the uptake of EVs in the country, with the aim of 64,000 vehicles on the road by 2021.

'The Government and private sector will need to keep working together if we are to make orders of sufficient scale to meet this target,” says Mr Bridges.

Only three models of EV are available under the current contract, so the initiative will introduce some flexibility as well as opening the NZ market to innovation, says Simon.

'We are already seeing increased demand, with a number of businesses making the switch to electric vehicles. We are committed to attracting manufacturers and models that deliver whole-of-life costs over time that are comparable to their petrol and diesel equivalents.”

AoG contracts harness the collective purchasing power of government by establishing single supply agreements for selected common goods and services.

They are designed to deliver high quality products and services to government and value for money for the New Zealand taxpayer.

'This approach demonstrates the Government's commitment to transitioning to a low carbon economy by enhancing the availability of electric vehicles, both in the public and private sector,” says Simon.

'I'm confident it will mean more electric vehicles on New Zealand's roads, sooner.”

For more information visit: http://www.transport.govt.nz/ourwork/climatechange/electric-vehicles