Fleetdrive 30 - August 2021 | Page 39

FLEETDRIVE
FLEETDRIVE
NET-ZERO NZ EASTERN ELECTRICS
TRUSTING TECHNOLOGY
The NZ Government has released the summary of its Transport Emissions : Pathways to Net Zero by 2050 , a Ministry of Transport report outlining potential policies and pathways to a net zero emission transport sector .
“ Domestic transport emissions increased by 90 per cent since 1990 and they need to fall significantly for us to reach our goal of net zero emissions by 2050 – that ’ s why we wanted to have a national conversation about what steps we need to take ,” Transport Minister Michael Wood said .
“ We ’ ve made progress with initiatives like our Clean Car Package which will prevent millions of tonnes of emissions , but we have to go further to meet our targets .”
Under the Clean Car Package , the Government is offering new rebates for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles - with up to $ 8625 NZ for new vehicles and $ 3450 NZ for used .
The government has also promised chargers every 75km along most state highways to give Kiwis confidence to go electric .
More than a fifth of all electric vehicles imported to Russia between January and May were sold in the Eastern city of Khabarovsk and surrounding areas — even though the region claims just 4 per cent of the nation ’ s population .
Meanwhile the country ’ s capital Moscow , home to at least twice as many people , accounted for just 14 per cent of EV sales .
“ These cars are almost at every turn ,” said Dmitry Unagaev who owns an auto service shop .
“ Across the city , the vehicles are parked on the streets and in courtyards . People even hang power sockets from their balconies to charge the vehicles ,” he said .
With Asia a literal neighbour , the locals have easy access to cut-price used electric cars imported from Japan . Russia ’ s Far East also enjoys lowcost electricity , which is subsidised to stimulate economic development .
A new short film by autonomous technology cruise Cruise shows one of their 200 self-driving vehicle ’ s – affectionately known Poppy – and its journey over several years with the roads of San Francisco .
The film is part of the company ’ s aims to earn consumer trust and educate them about driverless technology in a unique way beyond facts , figures and diagrams .
“ There ’ s a trust that we have to build and develop ,” Cruise ’ s head of creative and content Tom Parker . “ And that involves the heart .”
Cruise ’ s creative team was inspired by beloved robotic characters R2-D2 from Star Wars and Disney and Pixar ’ s Wall-E , Parker said .
You can watch the video here :
ISSUE 30 AUGUST 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 39