RACQ has welcomed the State Government’s move to increase rebates for buyers of new electric vehicles (EVs).
The Club’s research showed the new $6000 rebate would have a positive impact on EV prices, making some electric models the same cost or even cheaper than their petrol comparisons.
The Club’s General Manager of Advocacy, Joshua Cooney, said the announcement by Queensland’s Minister for Energy, Mick de Brenni, was a step in the right direction.
“RACQ has made it clear that we don’t want any Queenslander left behind as the world transitions to more sustainable modes of transport and part of that means making electric cars more affordable,” Mr Cooney said.
“It’s great to see the State Government double the new EV rebate to $6000. This decision will make electric cars more affordable and give motorists more choice when purchasing their next car.”
Mr Cooney said it was clear that more Queenslanders were interested in purchasing EVs with the Australian Automobile Association’s (AAA) EV Index showing new electric car sales in the State soaring by 79.6% in the first three months of this year.
“We’re expecting a rapid uptake in electric cars in the coming years and governments must prioritise funding to expand our network of charging stations to ensure we can keep up with demand,” Mr Cooney said.
“It’s evident Australians and Queenslanders are hungry for sustainable cars and we need to be doing as much as possible to make EVs more affordable and convenient.
“The quicker we can increase the number of cleaner vehicles on the new-car market, the faster they will become available on the second-hand market, and that’s where we will see the real improvement on affordability and uptake.”
While this increased rebate is good for motorists buying electric cars outright or with a personal loan, RACQ would also like to see this scheme available for cars purchased using novated leases.
Additionally, Mr Cooney said drivers should not be left in the dark about EVs with large knowledge gaps needing to be filled.
“As well as making EVs cheaper, we also think there needs to be investment in greater education to bring Queenslanders along for the electric transformation ride,” Mr Cooney said.
The new July 1, 2023 changes include:
- An increase to the rebate from $3000 to $6000 for eligible households earning up to a total gross household income of $180,000 per year.
- Applicants who have already applied and received a $3000 rebate under the earlier scheme, and who are under the total gross income threshold, are eligible for reassessment and additional payment of $3000 rebate (totalling $6000 per eligible application).
- An increase to the eligibility threshold for vehicles, which will now exclude dealer delivery fees from determining ‘dutiable value’ from $58,000 to $68,000
