Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund

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

This funding round is open to all New Zealand-based and New Zealand-registered legal entities, except: Public Service Departments, Non-Public Service Departments (such as the New Zealand Defence Force) and Statutory Crown Entities.
For clarity, the following types of organisations are eligible to submit Proposals: State-owned Enterprises, Local Councils and Regional Councils.

LEHVF grants will cover:

Up to 25% of the purchase price of new zero-emissions vehicles (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric).
Up to 25% of the conversion cost of ICE vehicles registered in New Zealand for the first time between 1 August 2022 and 1 August 2024, to be converted to a zero-emissions vehicle (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric).
Up to 25% of the purchase price of new low-emission vehicles (plug-in diesel-electric hybrid and hydrogen-diesel dual fuel).
Up to 25% of the conversion cost of new ICE vehicles or used ICE vehicles first registered in New Zealand between 1 August 2022 and 1 August 2024, to run on low-emissions technologies (hydrogen-diesel dual fuel or plug-in diesel-electric hybrid).

There are capped maximums on funding for each of these categories, depending on gross vehicle mass (GVM) and vehicle class.
Funding caps for low-emissions vehicles are lower than those for zero-emissions vehicles.
Caps are also set on the amount of grant funding available to each supplier, vehicle operator, and on the total amount of grant funding available for low emissions technologies (hydrogen-diesel dual fuel or plug-in diesel-electric hybrid).
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.

Register vehicles for the LEHVF list of eligible vehicles

Importers, suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of vehicles of 5.9 tonnes GVM and over, are invited to register their vehicles for consideration to be included on the LEHVF’s list of eligible vehicles.

The programme is also open to converters of vehicles to zero or low-emissions technologies.

Converters can apply to have their proposed conversions approved from August 1. Conversions will not appear on the approved list as they are approved on a case-by-case basis. These applications will be approved after the LEHVF launch date.

The ITR will remain open for the duration of the grant being operational, to ensure all newly qualifying vehicles have the opportunity to be represented on the approved list.

Key documents

Invitation to Register [PDF 1.2 MB]

Supplier Agreement [PDF 1.2 MB]

Applications are open

The Invitation to Register (ITR) is open ongoing from 1 August 2024.

Please review the ITR document and complete the online form available through the link below.

Apply now

ITR webinar for suppliers

29 minutes

An online information session about the ITR process was held for suppliers and converters, on 6 August 2024.

The webinar is available to view below.

Watch now

LEHVF-funded vehicles available from September

Vehicle operators can contact importers/suppliers about eligible vehicles when the list of eligible vehicles is publicised in September.
The importer/supplier/converter will manage the application process. The vehicle operator pays the supplier for the vehicle, less the grant amount.

This page will be updated frequently with the latest information, which will also be shared on LinkedIn(external link) and via our newsletter.

What kind of project is this for?
New ZEHVs	Factory zero-emissions heavy vehicles (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric) Converted zero-emissions heavy vehicles (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric)
Used ZEHVs	Converted zero-emissions heavy vehicles (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric)
New LEHVs	Hydrogen-diesel dual fuel heavy vehicles Plug-in diesel-electric hybrid heavy vehicles
Used LEHVs	Hydrogen-diesel dual fuel heavy vehicles Plug-in diesel-electric hybrid heavy vehicles

All vehicles must have a GVM of 5.9 tonnes or more.

All vehicles to be converted 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.

ZEHV: Zero-emissions heavy vehicles

LEHV: Low-emissions heavy vehicles

Contact

Importers, suppliers, converters and OEMs can direct questions to LEHVF@eeca.govt.nz

Frequently asked questions

Vehicle operators can contact importers/suppliers/converters about eligible vehicles after the LEHVF list is publicised when the LEHVF launches officially in September.

The importer/supplier/converter will manage the application process. The vehicle operator will pay for the vehicle, less the grant amount.

This webpage will be updated frequently with the latest information, which will also be shared on LinkedIn(external link) and via our newsletter.

Sign up

How much do ZEHVs in each class tend to cost, without the grants?

Type of vehicle	Gross Vehicle Mass / Gross Combination Mass	Pricing of products in this segment (battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric)
Light	over 5.9 tonne, up to 18 tonne GVM	$150k - $250k
Medium	over 18 tonne GVM, up to 39 tonne GCM	$300k - $600k
Heavy	over 18 tonne GVM and above 39 tonne GCM	Many hundreds of thousands of dollars, up to $1 million

We have set the GVM limit to 5.9 tonnes (rather than 6 tonnes) as manufacturers make 5.9t trucks and 8.5t trucks which are functionally the same vehicle with different carrying capacities, but operators often choose the lower rated vehicle to allow for drivers with class 1 licences to drive them.

On average, 1,000 trucks registered in New Zealand annually weigh between 5.9-6 tonnes. For comparison, there are also about 1,000 sales of 6-12 tonne vehicles per year.
Converters can apply to have their proposed conversions approved from August 1. These applications will be approved after the LEHVF launch date in September.

Vehicles to be converted will not appear on the 'approved' list as they are approved on a case-by-case basis.

Vehicle operators will need to select a converter registered with the programme from EECA's website.

Owners of existing ICE vehicles, registered in New Zealand for the first time between 1 August 2022 and 1 August 2024, can receive up to 25% grant funding up to a set maximum for that class of vehicle towards the cost of converting it to be powered by proven low or zero-emissions technology.
No.

The age range criteria apply to used zero-emissions heavy vehicles and dual fuel and plug-in hybrid heavy vehicles.

These vehicles must have only been registered in NZ and the date of first registration must be between 1 August 2022 and 1 August 2024.

Over time, that opportunity will disappear because there are new vehicles coming in which will meet the requirements and all the criteria, at better prices.