Last month, the Victorian government, cancelled the state’s EV rebate program in a shock move. The state of Victoria was offering residents a $3,000 rebate for the purchase of electric vehicles as part of the previously titled Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, but it came to an end on June 30.
Now a reader of The Driven, Chris M, has shared news that customers have received an email potentially covering the future of the scheme.
The email asks recent recipients of the rebate program to fill out a survey that could help “improve the program”.
“We would like to hear how your experience of purchasing a ZEV with a ZEV subsidy program rebate. Your valuable feedback will help us improve the program and make it easier for Victorians to access the rebate and drive towards a renewable energy future.”
It further highlights the benefits of the program in helping more Victorians buy a cleaner EV and how recipients of the program can help with shaping its future.
“The ZEV program is supporting more Victorian residents and businesses to drive the future of transport by purchasing a new electric vehicle sooner. By participating in the survey, you are helping to shape the future of this program.”
The program was initially announced back in 2021 with a goal of handing out 20,000 EV subsidies.
“The subsidy will be available for more than 20,000 new ZEV purchases from Sunday, 2 May 2021,” it said at the time. “Subsidies will be available in stages, with an initial 4,000 spots. Further stages will be announced as the program progresses.”
Over the course of the program, it had delivered over 10,000 subsidies, cutting it much shorter than the initial target. This also represents misalignments with the state’s own ZEV targets which are to have “half of all light vehicle sales in Victoria to be ZEVs by 2030”.
Even during the last couple of weeks of the subsidy ending announcement, BYD landed 750 new Atto 3 EVs in Victoria to help more residents get behind the wheel of an electric SUV while making the most of the remaining subsidy spots.
On the other hand, back in April Queensland doubled its electric vehicle rebate to $6,000. “We want more zero emission vehicles on Queensland roads with Queensland families to have access to cheaper and cleaner vehicles,” said the minister for energy, renewables and hydrogen Mick de Brenni at the time.
At this stage, it’s unclear if there will be a return of the ZEV subsidy scheme but as spotted by the readers of The Driven, mixed messages are being put out to Victorians who have recently made the switch to a cleaner EV.
We hope there is a future program that will help many more Victorians help get behind the wheel of an EV, just as more affordable electric hatchbacks are to arrive in the coming months. The Driven reached out to Solar Victoria, which managed the scheme, but did not receive a reply before publication.
