Battery electric vehicles will improve air quality and resident's health through zero exhaust emissions, help reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, and will result in a greater proportion of energy used for vehicle transport being from renewable resources.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The Christchurch Community Carbon Footprint 2016/17 estimated that approximately 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in Christchurch are from road transport. Increasing the uptake of battery electric vehicles will assist in reducing our city’s emissions.
Health effects
The Ministry of Transport warns that research suggests the most damaging of vehicle emissions to people’s health and wellbeing are particulates and carbon monoxide.
Emissions from vehicles include:
- particulates
- carbon monoxide
- carbon dioxide
- nitrogen dioxide
- sulphur dioxide
- benzene