The industry training organisation for the automotive sector, MITO is receiving $95,000 from the Government’s low emission vehicles contestable fund to develop a qualification framework for the safe inspection, servicing and repair of electric vehicles (EVs) in New Zealand. The announcement of the funding for MITO was made by energy and resources minister Megan Woods in Wellington, on January 17. “The contestable fund encourages innovation and investment to accelerate the uptake of EV and low-emission vehicles in New Zealand, “ says MITO chiefexecutive Janet Lane. “Critical to this is developing the human infrastructure required for the safe inspection, servicing and repair of EV vehicles, to balance the requiredphysical infrastructure. We are very grateful for this co-investment from the fund,” says Lane. The $95,000 will go towards the project that will enable industry-wide access to training provision and qualifications for EVs by 2019. Fundamental to … [Read more...] about Servicing and repairs of electric vehicles gets a boost from Government contestable fund
Government
Government announces $3.74 million for new electric vehicles
More electric vehicles will be hitting New Zealand’s highways, bus lanes and streets thanks to more new funding announced by the New Zealand government. Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods today announced $3.74 million for 20 projects under the third round of the low emission vehicles contestable fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The projects will see Government funding matched or bettered by businesses. “These exciting projects include a 58 tonne fully electric truck to be used by Coda in Hamilton to shuttle Fonterra’s dairy goods to the railway,” says Woods. “Projects like this are vital to show others in the heavy logistics and transport industry that electric trucks are not only viable but have very low running costs,” she says. Woods says $1.7m of the funding would help fill gaps in the country’s charging infrastructure. Funding was also going towards tourism opportunities … [Read more...] about Government announces $3.74 million for new electric vehicles
Linamar looks to scale up with investment from Ontario and Canadian government
Ontario and Canada are partnering with precision products manufacturer Linamar to advance cutting-edge auto technology, boost R&D and help create up to 1,500 new jobs and retain about 8,000 others in the province. Brad Duguid, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth, and Navdeep Bains, Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, were in Guelph on January 15 to make the announcement.Ontario is providing Linamar with a conditional grant through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund of up to $50 million (Rs 315 crore) as part of a project with overall eligible costs of up to $500 million (Rs 3,158 crore). The project duration is until 2024 with job commitments lasting until 2029. The government of Canada is also providing matching funding towards the project.The investment will help Linamar to manufacture next-generation transmission and drivetrain components and systems; build high-efficiency engine components; develop and produce electrified and … [Read more...] about Linamar looks to scale up with investment from Ontario and Canadian government
‘The government should consider a gradual adoption of EVs, thereby promoting electrification of powertrains, rather than an abrupt shift to only pure EVs.’
The automotive industry is in the wake of disruption and electro-mobility is here and now. It is important for all our stakeholders to accept the change and start working towards it. However, in the absence of a definite road map and policy guideline from the government, it is difficult to predict as to how soon it will be realised.The automotive component industry has built a strong foundation and a robust manufacturing ecosystem. The Indian component sector, which today is a US$ 43.5 billion industry, has been ‘Making in India’ for the past three decades, which has enabled it to export parts worth US$ 11 billion to over 160 countries.While ACMA has around 800 members and in reality 31 percent are into engine component manufacturing and another over 20 percent are in transmission components, there are over 8,000 companies (largely MSMEs in the unorganised sector) involved in component manufacturing and another 50,000 in retails and distribution of aftermarket components. … [Read more...] about ‘The government should consider a gradual adoption of EVs, thereby promoting electrification of powertrains, rather than an abrupt shift to only pure EVs.’
Councils have failed to use UK Government EV charge grant, say ministers
Just five UK councils have made use of government funding for electric car charging points, something ministers believe is denying people the opportunity to move into EVs.Transport minister Jesse Norman said that despite being “in the early stages of an electric revolution”, councils have been slow to take advantage of government money provided by its On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme.Launched in 2016, the scheme still contains £4.5 million of unclaimed money, which can cover 75% of the cost to fit new charge points or adapt lampposts so they can supply energy for chargers.“Millions of homes in the UK do not have off-street parking, so this funding is important to help local councils ensure that all their residents can take advantage of this revolution,” said Norman.Electric car sales in Britain have grown at unprecedented rates in recent months, despite an ongoing downturn in the wider new car market. In 2017, when the UK market shrank by 5.7%, … [Read more...] about Councils have failed to use UK Government EV charge grant, say ministers