Incentive offered to 'encourage wider adoption' of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
Unilever New Zealand is shouldering the costs of charging plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as part of its measures to further reduce overall CO2 emissions, according to reports.
The organisation has installed PHEV home chargers for employees, and is footing the bill for charging the vehicles, Stuff reported.
"Expanding public charging networks and offering incentives could encourage wider adoption," said Cameron Heath, managing director of Unilever, as quoted by Stuff. "At Unilever NZ, we've installed home chargers for our staff, reducing reliance on public stations and leading by example in transitioning to low-emission vehicles."
The move is part of Unilever's efforts to reduce its overall CO2 emissions, according to the report. Since installing the home chargers, the company said there has been a 37% reduction in carbon emissions.
Christine Smith, Unilever's Business Manager for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region, told Stuff that home charging allows her to focus on work without finding charging stations.
"I've seen real savings both financially and environmentally. I also charge when I am at a supermarket that has a charging unit, as I drive long distances," Smith said.
Unilever NZ introduced PHEVs to its fleet in December last year, which now includes 23 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs and 3 Kia Niro EVs.
Heath said the organisation opted for PHEVs as a "practical first step" in their fleet electrification journey.
"Current charging infrastructure makes fully electric vehicles impractical for these day trips our field team need to travel," Heath said. "That's why we opted for plug-in hybrids - they provide flexibility for longer days while allowing us to encourage the team to use charging stations whenever possible."
But he noted that they will continue transitioning towards a 100% electric fleet by 2030 as technology and infrastructure improve.
And as Unilever NZ further encourages wider adoption of PHEVs, Heath called for further support for EV infrastructure and education.
"Further government incentives for fleet electrification would help accelerate this transition," he said.
He made the remarks after the New Zealand government pulled the plug on the Clean Car Discount, which previously provided "rebates and charges based on carbon emissions for new and used vehicle imports."
