Funding for zero-emission hydrogen vehicles
Ports of Auckland (POAL) has been approved for part-funding for the purchase of zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from the Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund (LEVCF) to further its plan to build a hydrogen production and refuelling facility at its Waitemata port.
Along with its project partners Auckland Transport, Auckland Council and KiwiRail, POAL will procure a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) bus and three HFC cars. The fund, administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), will be providing 14% of the estimated cost of these vehicles.
Rosie Mercer, hydrogen project manager at POAL, said: “Collaboration is key to the success of a project like this, which is breaking new ground in an effort to stem climate change. That is why we’re working with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, KiwiRail and Arup. Having Government support as well is a real boost.”
2040 target
In December, POAL announced its plan to build Auckland’s first hydrogen production and refuelling facility at its Waitematā port to help it achieve zero emissions by 2040.
POAL is funding construction of the facility, expected to be open at the end of 2019, which will produce hydrogen from tap water, enabling demonstration vehicles to be able to fill up with the gas.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a type of electric vehicle (EV) but are powered by hydrogen fuel cells rather than batteries. In the fuel cell hydrogen is combined with oxygen to produce electricity, meaning that fuel-cell powered vehicles produce zero emissions.
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