There are still no federal incentives, or any policies at all to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, but Australia’s states and territories are starting to put in a lot of effort to lay the groundwork for the anticipated shift to EVs and trying to drag the country out of the slow lane in the electric transition.
Two states and jurisdictions – NSW and the ACT – now stand out in terms of the breadth and depth of incentives and support for consumers hungry to burn electrons, not petrol.
The highest rebates on offer are $3000 for a brand new EV, and can be found in both NSW and Victoria. However, for a bit of perspective, the New Zealand Government is now offering rebates of $NZ8625 for new imported EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and NZ$3450 for second hand ones.[1] And EV chargers are now available every 75km along most NZ highways.
Below is a simple ranking of our states based on the incentives on offer, but the details of each state’s strategies are worth a closer look in the summaries that follow.
New South Wales
Incentives
- $3000 rebate for 25,000 EVs under $68,750 (after 01/09/2021)
- Stamp duty exemption for EVs under $78,000 (after 01/09/2021, permanent)
Other
- 2.5c/km road user tax to be imposed 01/07/2027
- Stamp duty abolished for all EVs and PHEVs after 01/07/2027
- 100% of the State fleet to be electric by 2030, with around 600 PHEVs and 300 BEVs added annually
- [2]$171 million on widespread charging infrastructure – including fast chargers at 100 km intervals on all major highways
- Aiming for 50% of new cars sold in NSW by 2030.
- Medium to large sized fleets incentivised to buy EVs through reverse auction process.
- EV drivers can use T2 and T3 transit lanes for a limited time.
- Grants for regional businesses to install charge points for guests to attract tourism trade
ACT
Incentives
- Two years free registration for new and used ZEVs (until mid 2024)
- 20% annual vehicle registration discount
- $15,000 interest-free loans
- Stamp duty exemption on new EVs
Other
- 100% newly leased ACT Government fleet passenger vehicles in 2020-2021 are ZEVs, where fit for purpose.
- 50 new publicly accessible charging stations
- All new multi-unit and mixed use developments to install vehicle charging infrastructure
- Priority parking spaces
- Permitted to drive in transit lanes until 2023
Victoria[4]
Incentives
- $3000 rebate for 20,000 ZEVs priced under $68,740
- $100 registration discount for Zero or low emission vehicles[5]
- Low emissions (<120g/km) vehicles do not attract the luxury car transfer tax rates[6]
Other
- Road user tax of 2.5c/km for BEVs and 2c/km for PHEVs[7] from 01/07/2021, rising annually with inflation[8]
- Target of 50 per cent of light vehicle sales by 2030
- $19 million on charging infrastructure in regional areas[9]
- $10 million to replace 400 vehicles in the Government fleet with ZEVs by 2023[10]
Tasmania
Incentives
- Stamp duty exemption for two years on new and used EVs[12]
Other
- Target for 100% of Government fleet to be EVs by 2030
- Free registration for EVs purchased by car rental companies and coach operators for two years
- State-wide network of 12 fast chargers
- $600,000 towards fast- and destination-charging stations in regional and tourism destinations
Queensland
Incentives
- Reduced stamp duty for EVs – a $60,000 EV or hybrid costs $1200 in duty, a 4 cylinder costs $1800, and a 6 cylinder costs $2100[13]
- Reduced registration fees – EVs save between $71.45 and $606.85 compared to ICE vehicles, depending upon the number of cylinders[14]
Other
- Increase EVs and PHEVs in the 10,000 strong Government fleet to 288 in 2022, and doubling it year on year.[15]
- Encouraging agencies to replace all existing ICE vehicles with PHEVs, EVs and Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles[16]
- Extension of the Queensland Electric Super Highway west to cover 3800km, with 49 fast charging locations across QLD.
(June 2021: Queensland’s new Zero Emission Vehicle strategy in development.)[17]
South Australia[18]
Incentives
(none)
Other
- Entire SA Government fleet to be electric by 2030 using existing fleet budget
- 110 rapid highway charging stations installed across South Australia, 350 fast destination chargers in metropolitan centres by 2030-35
- Road user tax proposed and delayed.
Western Australia
Incentives
(none)
Other
- $21 million Electric Vehicle Fund to build the world’s longest network of EV charging stations.
- Target of 25% EVs in the State Government fleet by 2026[19]
- New lower rate EV tariff to encourage EV owners to charge between 11pm and 4am.
- EVs are exempt from the 10% on-demand (taxis, ride sourcing, charter vehicles) transport levy which can add up to $10 to each journey.[20]
Northern Territory
Incentives
- EVs pay the lowest registration fees in the small car category, like Queensland ($655.55 year).
Other
(none)
EV acronyms explained!
EV – electric vehicle
BEV – battery electric vehicle
ZEV – zero emissions vehicle (hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicle)
PHEV – plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
[1] https://www.nsw.gov.au/initiative/nsw-governments-electric-vehicle-strategy
[2] https://reneweconomy.com.au/nsw-government-triples-ev-fleet-target-to-ease-regulations-for-charging-infrastructure-70358/
[3] https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/1188498/2018-21-ACTs-transition-to-zero-emissions-vehicles-Action-Plan-ACCESS.pdf
[4] https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/zero-emissions-vehicle-subsidy#how-much-is-the-subsidy
[5] https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/registration-fees/concessions-and-discounts/hybrid-vehicle-registration-discount
[6] https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/registration-fees/transfer-and-motor-vehicle-duty-fees#C1
[7] https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/registration-fees/zlev-road-user-charge
[8] https://thedriven.io/2021/05/26/pay-up-or-lose-your-rego-victorias-ev-road-tax-passed-into-law/
[9] https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/driving-towards-zero-emissions-vehicle-future
[10] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/30/electric-vehicle-vacuum-leads-to-confusion-between-states-and-territories
[11 http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/site_resources_2015/additional_releases/supporting_tasmanias_electric_vehicle_future
[12] https://thedriven.io/2021/05/03/tasmanian-ev-buyers-to-get-tax-break-as-liberals-win-state-poll/
[13] https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/fees/duty/calculator
[14] https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/registration/fees/cost
[15] https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/3366/qfleetelectricvehicletransitionstrategy.pdf
[16] https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92421
[17] https://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/consultation/7901/view.html
[18] https://thedriven.io/2020/11/06/south-australia-to-transition-car-fleet-and-boost-charging-network-in-big-ev-push/
[19] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/30/electric-vehicle-vacuum-leads-to-confusion-between-states-and-territories
[20]https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/taxis/ODT_P_FS_Levy_factsheet.pdf
[1] https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/clean-car-package-drive-down-emissions