Victorian government to introduce $3,000 subsidy for electric vehicles

This subsidy will apply to Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) and will be available for up to 20,000 vehicles from May 2 2021. 

According to the Andrews Government in Victoria, this package is part of a $100 million commitment to see fully electric or hydrogen-powered cars represent half of all new vehicles sales by 2030.

Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said the state's transport sector is a significant contributor to emissions. 

"This package of reforms makes cars the vehicle for change, by getting more zero emissions vehicles on our roads," she said. 

Treasurer Tim Pallas meanwhile said these investments "will encourage more drivers to consider purchasing a zero emissions vehicle – and ensure Victoria leads the nation in zero emissions vehicle uptake.”

See also: 'Electric car discount' on the ballot at the next federal election

Other state electric car subsidies 

Currently, Australia has mostly state-based incentives for encouraging electric vehicle (EV) purchases, with little on offer at the federal level. 

For wannabe electric and hybrid car owners, the following incentives are available apart from this new $3,000 subsidy: 

• The ACT waives stamp duty and gives free registration for electric cars, and also offers interest-free loans up to $15,000

• Victoria exempts electric cars from the “luxury vehicle” rate of stamp duty and offers a $100 yearly discount on registration.

• Queensland charges a lower rate of stamp duty of 2% on purchases

• NSW offers a small discount on registration costs

Confusion over Victorian government's two-sided approach to EVs

This announcement of a $3,000 break for car buyers, as well as a $19 million investment in charging infrastructure, has been met with praise by some industry groups. 

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) for example was supportive, saying it had worked closely with the government to increase the uptake of EVs. 

"The FCAI thanks the Victorian Government for its consultation on this issue and we look forward to continuing to develop more policy through the Victorian Government’s expert advisory panel to ensure that achievable, practical and innovative long-term strategies are in place to meet long-term, shared objectives for CO₂ emissions reduction," FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said.

“The FCAI has consistently advocated for a national approach to these issues that ideally would be Federally-led to avoid the prospect of individual State Governments introducing their own standards and incentive programs in support of ZLEVs."

However, Mr Weber also noted that this new package brings into question the Victorian Government's new electric vehicle road charge, the 'electric vehicle tax' dubbed by 25 different organisations to be the "worst EV policy in the world" (see below). 

“Road user charging decisions should not be based around specific technologies and particularly those that are in their relative infancy in the Australian market," Mr Weber said. 

"An efficient road user charging scheme can address all vehicle users regardless of the type of vehicle they drive, how often it is driven and the purpose of the travel.

“The FCAI will be keen to work with the Victorian and other governments to explore the benefits to the broad-based tax and vehicle charging reform."

What is the Victorian "electric vehicle tax"

The Victorian Road-user charge is set to begin on July 1 2021, assuming it passes parliament in early May. 

Essentially, this charge would include a tax of 2.5 cents per-kilometre for full electric vehicles and 2 cents a kilometre for plug in hybrid vehicles.

Vic Roads says this would mean the average EV owner could expect to pay an additional $330 each year in road costs, and according to The Australia Institute, it would be the first tax in the world to directly make buying an EV harder. 

In an open letter created by The Australia Institute, 25 different organisations called this proposal "the worst EV policy in the world", including:

• Car manufacturers like Hyundai and Volkswagen
• Climate advocates like the Clean Energy Council, the Smart Energy Council, the Australian Conservation Foundation and more
• Automotive bodies like the Electric Vehicle Council and Transport Alliance
• Other companies like Uber and Charge Fox  

"No other jurisdiction has introduced such a targeted levy on the cleanest vehicles on the road without significant incentives to balance it out," the letter said. 

"Most industrialised countries are prioritising incentives for electric vehicles to benefit from cleaner air and new jobs from a growing industry.

"This new tax means the world’s manufacturers are far less likely to send Victorians their best, most affordable, zero emissions vehicles."

Most Australians seem to agree with further EV incentives, regardless of major-party affiliation. 

However, the Victorian Government said its new $3,000 EV subsidy was made possible by the expected revenue from the road charge, saying it "will be introduced at a fraction of the motor vehicle-related taxes and charges other vehicle owners pay, and ensures all road users contribute to the upkeep of our roads". 

Related: Affordable electric cars in Australia

Photo by Science in HD on Unsplash   

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