New South Wales will be the best place in Australia to buy and drive an electric vehicle (EV) under the NSW Government’s nation-leading Electric Vehicle Strategy, with almost half a billion dollar investment in tax cuts and incentives to drive an electric revolution.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said $490 million is being committed in the 2021-22 NSW Budget to cut taxes, incentivise uptake and reduce barriers for electric vehicle purchases over the next four years.
“Our comprehensive strategy is about making sure we have the right mix in place to incentivise the take-up of electric vehicles while ensuring everyone who drives on our roads contributes to funding and maintaining them,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our strategy also commences long-term major tax reform. Today we begin the process of permanently phasing out stamp duty on electric vehicles and a deferred transition to a fair and sustainable per-kilometre road user charge for electric vehicles.
“From September this year, we will waive stamp duty for eligible EVs under $78,000 and $3,000 rebates will be up for grabs for the first 25,000 purchasers of battery and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles under $68,750.
“From young adults saving for their first car in Western Sydney to retirees planning a road trip to Broken Hill, these incentives will make electric vehicles accessible and affordable for all NSW residents.”
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the EV Strategy will help the NSW Government take action on climate change.
“Our transport sector currently makes up 20 per cent of the state’s emissions, with almost 50 per cent of those coming from passenger vehicles,” Mr Constance said.
“Electric vehicles are not only cheaper to run and quieter on our roads, but they also reduce both carbon emissions and air pollution which results in dramatically improved health outcomes for our communities.
“As the world’s right-hand drive market moves to manufacturing electric vehicles, we have to make sure we have the policies in place to give industry the green light to increase model availability and cut entry price points.
“The average NSW driver will save around $1,000 a year in running costs by switching to an EV, and those savings can be up to $7,500 a year for businesses, taxis and freight.”
Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean said we need to give drivers more options to make their next car an EV.
“Countries and car makers around the world are moving to EVs and NSW consumers deserve access to the latest vehicle models when they go to buy a car,” Mr Kean said.
“We also know that, with new cars staying on the road 15 years on average, the vast majority of new cars sold in NSW need to be EVs by 2035 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
“Our aim is to increase EV sales to more than 50 per cent of new cars sold in NSW by 2030 and for EVs to be the vast majority of new cars sold in the State by 2035.
“This nation-leading plan will help us achieve these objectives by tackling the three biggest barriers to purchasing an EV – range anxiety, upfront cost, and model availability – and is forecast to see EV new car sales hit 52 per cent by 2030-31.
“We want new and cheaper models of EVs to be available here in NSW and this strategy is designed to drive that outcome.”
The $490 million in funding and tax cuts includes:
- Stamp duty will be waived for eligible electric vehicles (battery and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) priced under $78,000 purchased from 1 September 2021;
- Rebates of $3,000 will be offered on private purchases of the first 25,000 eligible EVs (battery and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) under $68,750 sold in NSW from 1 September 2021;
- $171 million for new charging infrastructure across the State. This includes $131 million to spend on new ultra-fast vehicle chargers, $20 million in grants for destination chargers to assist regional tourism, and $20 million for charging infrastructure at public transport hubs on Transport for NSW owned land;
- $33 million to help transition the NSW Government passenger fleet to EVs where feasible, with the target of a fully electric fleet by 2030. These vehicles typically are onsold after three to five years, providing availability for private buyers in the second hand market.
The Strategy builds on the programs in the State’s Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 and Future Transport 2056 Strategy.
For more information, visit: nsw.gov.au/electric-vehicle-reform
New vision available to download: https://bit.ly/3zDdKGO
NSW EV Strategy
Key priorities:
- Start the process of removing stamp duty from all zero and low emission vehicles in NSW:
- Helping drivers buy an electric vehicle;
- Building a world-class ultra-fast EV charging network;
- Maximising public health opportunities associated with EVs;
- Achieving state objective of net zero emissions by 2050;
- Making it easier to drive an EV right across NSW;
- Creating new jobs and growing the economy; and Keeping road funding fair and sustainable.
Key features
Removing stamp duty for EVs
- Battery and hydrogen fuel-cell EVs under $78,000 will no longer pay stamp duty from 1 September 2021;
- All other EVs, including plug-in hybrids, will no longer pay stamp duty from the earlier of 1 July 2027 or when EVs make up at least 30 per cent of new car sales.
Providing EV rebates
- $3,000 rebates will be available for the first 25,000 battery or hydrogen fuel-cell EVs under $68,750 sold from 1 September 2021.
Ambitious NSW Government EV target
- NSW Government car fleet will be targetting an all-electric fleet by 2029-30, including an interim target of 50 per cent by 2025-26.
Targetting a comprehensive EV charging network (delivered by the private sector)
- All households in areas with limited off-street parking will live no more than 5km from an ultra-fast charger;
- EV super highways: ultra-fast chargers will be installed at 100km intervals on average along major NSW highways;
- EV commuter corridors: ultra-fast chargers will be installed at 5km intervals along major roads in Sydney;
- Rolling out more destination chargers at commuter carparks in Sydney.
Transit lanes
- EV drivers will be given access to transit T2 and T3 lanes for a period of time.
EV tourism
- Designated ‘EV Tourist Drives’ will be introduced across NSW, promoting scenic regional driving routes that have charging infrastructure to support driving regional holidays;
- $20 million in grants will be available for tourism businesses such as regional hotels, restaurants and wineries to install destination chargers.
Road user charge
- Road user charge of 2.5c/km in today’s dollars (or 2c/km for plug in hybrid EVs) will be deferred to start on the earlier of 1 July 2027 or when EVs make up at least 30 per cent of new car sales. This will replace stamp duty, as well as partially replacing fuel excise, which EV drivers do not pay.