Objectives
The Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) aims to increase the number of zero and low-emissions heavy vehicles on New Zealand’s roads, and provide market signals to manufacturers to encourage supply.
Eligibility
- All New Zealand-based and New Zealand-registered legal entities, including State-owned enterprises, local councils and regional councils.
- Public service departments, non-public service departments (such as the New Zealand Defence Force) and statutory Crown entities are NOT eligible.
- Only the vehicles, suppliers and converters listed on this webpage are approved for funding.
How the fund works
Heavy vehicles make up less than 5% of New Zealand's vehicle fleet, but account for roughly a quarter of road transport emissions. High upfront costs and the unknown total cost of ownership are the main barriers to the private sector's uptake of zero and low-emissions heavy vehicles.
The LEHVF aims to offset these barriers by funding up to 25% of the purchase price of a new low or zero-emissions heavy vehicle, or 25% of the cost to convert an existing ICE heavy vehicle to be powered by approved clean technologies.
If you want to buy or convert a heavy vehicle
Reach out directly to suppliers or converters to purchase eligible vehicles or conversions. As long as the vehicle, supplier or converter is registered on our approved list below and the buyer is eligible, the LEHVF grant will apply.
Contact a supplier to access a grant
If you want to supply or convert vehicles
EECA is accepting applications to register for the LEHVF approved list.
LEHVF grants cover:
- up to 25% of the purchase price (retail) of new zero-emissions vehicles (battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric)
- up to 25% of the conversion cost of existing ICE vehicles, to be converted to a zero-emissions vehicle (battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric)
- up to 25% of the conversion cost of existing ICE vehicles to run on low-emissions technologies (hydrogen-diesel dual fuel, plug-in diesel-electric hybrid)
- up to 25% of the purchase price (retail) of new low-emission vehicles (plug-in diesel-electric hybrid, hydrogen-diesel dual fuel).
Other eligibility criteria
Grants
- Vehicle operators wishing to purchase a LEHVF-funded vehicle must choose a model from the approved list(external link).
- Grants are capped at $4 million per vehicle importer/supplier and $1 million per vehicle operator, for the first year of the LEHVF’s operation. Caps for the following year will be set by 31 March 2025 and announced by the end of April 2025.
- There are also capped maximums on funding for each vehicle category, depending on gross vehicle mass (GVM) and vehicle class. These categories are based on licensing and energy usage.
- The LEHVF programme will be reviewed six months after launch, at which time criteria and funding caps may change. Any changes will be communicated to the market in advance of them taking effect.
Vehicles
- All vehicles must have a GVM of 5.9 tonnes or more.
- Grants apply to the cost of the cab chassis only, excluding bodywork.
- Existing ICE vehicles to be converted to low or zero-emissions technologies must have been registered in New Zealand for the first time between 1 August 2022 and 1 August 2024, whether they have had a single owner or multiple owners.
- Public transport buses are excluded, but other buses and coaches meeting weight requirements are eligible.
Contact a supplier or converter to access a grant
The vehicles, suppliers and converters below have been approved for LEHVF grants. Suppliers and converters on this list will manage the purchase process. The vehicle operator pays the supplier or converter for the vehicle or its conversion, less the grant amount.
Buyers must conduct their own due diligence on listed vehicles, suppliers and converters.
Information for suppliers and converters
EECA will accept applications from suppliers and converters to be approved for the LEHVF until funding is exhausted.
You must become an approved supplier or converter before you can get vehicles added to the approved list.
Apply to be an approved supplier or converter
Read the Invitation to Register (ITR) document and Supplier Agreement, then complete the online application form.
For more information on the ITR process, watch the webinar(external link)
Invitation to Register [PDF 1.2 MB]
Review process
The LEHVF will be reviewed 6 months from its launch to ensure it is meeting its objectives and captures market advancements. Reviews will consider whether changes to the programme’s parameters are required, including grant caps. The timeline is as follows:
- February 2025: Complete review
- March 2025: Brief the Minister of Transport and Energy on the review's outcome, as well as any advice on adjustments for the LEHVF's second phase.
- April 2025: Communicate changes publicly, following Ministerial sign-off.
- 1 July 2025: Any changes to the LEHVF programme will take effect.
Contact
Importers, suppliers, converters and OEMs can direct questions to LEHVF@eeca.govt.nz
If you have questions about vehicles on the approved list or conversions, please contact an approved supplier or converter from the list.
Insights and case studies
-
Charging forward: trialling battery electric trucks in your fleet
Information for businesses considering investing in zero-emissions heavy vehicles.
- Co-funding
- Electric vehicles
- Decarbonisation
-
Leading the electric truck revolution
Case study: Reliance Transport and New Zealand’s first medium-duty Scania electric trucks.
- Co-funding
- Electric vehicles
- Decarbonisation
-
Hydrogen haulers: how heavy transport is lowering its emissions
Two New Zealand companies are trialling different hydrogen technologies in an effort to lower transport emissions.
- Case study
- Hydrogen
- Co-funding