LETF Round 7: Demonstration of Vehicles, Technology & Off-road

Round 7 investment focus

This funding round sought proposals to demonstrate a range of low emission technologies, infrastructure, innovations and business models (e.g Mobility-as-a-Service, or MaaS, transport technology and software projects) and low emission road and off-road vehicles (limited to the specifications set out in Section 1.4).

This could include projects in the areas of on-road battery electric cars, vans, trucks and buses, the specified off-road vehicles, and associated technologies or services. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and other technologies were potentially in scope if they make use of New Zealand’s renewable electricity advantage.

Up to $2.0 million was available in Round 7.

Round 7 objectives

This round's focus was on three areas:

Technology

Encourage innovation in approaches and technologies that can result in transport decarbonisation through, for example, smart charging and software to reduce or defer peak electricity demand, and optimisation of the use of low emission vehicles and other modes of transport, Mobility-as-a-Service applications.
Provide charging infrastructure technology which demonstrates the ability of technology to address constrained infrastructure or power availability at charging locations of interest.

Vehicles

Demonstrate low emission vehicles with a new business case, demonstration opportunity in a new sector or use case, or address significant barriers in an organisation or sector.
Demonstrate opportunities to consolidate the existing fleet of vehicles and provide innovative ways to transport people and goods.

Note - off-road vehicles may be side-by-side vehicles, tractors, excavators, loaders, graders, compactors, pavers, trucks, quad trucks, straddle carriers, forklifts, mobile cranes, scrapers, mobile crushers, side loaders, reach stackers, harvesters. Some ancillaries may be eligible, see the RFP for more detail.

Software and support

Provide software applications that will accelerate the transition of the fleet to zero emissions.
Support the development of low emission transport maintenance, repair and other support services
Support the development of battery recycling and repurposing services.

Demonstrations may provide:

Additionality or innovation in the business case;
Significant replication potential;
Demonstration of technology in a new location or environment;
Representation of end-use in a different sub-sector;
Potential for low-emission transport transition in the short, medium or long term;
Significant opportunity for learnings by overcoming barriers in the organisation, sectoral barriers or regulatory barriers.

Application documents

This round closed on February 1: documents below are for reference only.

Key documents

Request for Proposals [PDF, 1 MB]

Response form [DOCX, 4.2 MB] - this is for reference only, applicants must use the online form provided.

Proposed Funding Agreement [PDF, 257 KB]

Frequently Asked Questions [PDF, 131 KB]

Recipient's Guide [PDF, 465 KB]

Email LETFund@eeca.govt.nz with any questions.

FAQs

What's the application process?

There are generally up to two funding rounds per year for each investment focus area. Applicants have approximately four weeks to submit proposals after the funding round opens. Applications are assessed by a panel against the fund objectives and investment focus, the applicant’s ability to deliver, and the project's value for money.

The assessment panel makes recommendations to EECA to make a final decision. The application process takes around four months.

Recipients will be required to share knowledge, reporting and data with EECA as part of the Funding Agreement which will set out how, when and with whom it will be shared.

All projects must follow the investment principles and meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Request for Proposals.

How much can I apply for?

Who can apply?

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 such as District Health Boards.

The following types of organisations are eligible to submit proposals:

State-owned Enterprises
Local Councils
Regional Councils.

Proposals must be for projects delivered in New Zealand, however overseas-based project partners may be involved.

When would I receive co-funding?

What is excluded?

The overall Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF) exclusions apply to this round, along with the exclusions included in the RFP document.

LETF exclusions

In addition to these, projects that involve public journey and destination charging infrastructure, biofuels, marine vessels and aviation are excluded in this round and will be explored in future funding rounds — get in touch with us to discuss any project ideas involving these areas.

Key dates

RFP released	9am Thursday 1 December 2022
Deadline for questions	4pm Wednesday 25 January 2023
Deadline for proposals:	12pm Wednesday 1 February 2023
Decision announced	From late March 2023

Get in touch

We're happy to discuss your project ideas and likely eligibility. For any enquiries, such as questions on the scope of the fund or help completing the Response Form, email LETFund@eeca.govt.nz.