The Queensland Government’s $55 million electric vehicle (EV) funding package has been welcomed by clean transport advocacy group Solar Citizens as an important step in driving down transport pollution. The announcement includes $3,000 for 15,000 EVs and $10 million for EV charging infrastructure.
“With fuel prices and the cost of living going through the roof, more and more people want to switch to cars you can fuel up at home for a fraction of the cost,” Solar Citizens strategist Stephanie Gray said.
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“Government support for the rollout of electric vehicles is vital for Australian families to have a long-term solution to battle volatile petrol prices.
“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run and maintain than petrol cars and they slash emissions, but the price tag is still a major barrier for many people.”
A survey of a representative sample of 807 Queenslanders commissioned by Solar Citizens in December 2021 found that purchase price was the biggest barrier to switching to an electric vehicle, particularly for those on a low income.
“The $3,000 rebate is a practical step to reduce the cost of electric vehicles and puts Queensland on the same page as states like New South Wales and South Australia that are encouraging the uptake of cleaner cars,” Gray said.
“But more government support is needed to build a thriving local electric vehicle industry and provide commuters with a reprieve from high fuel prices.
“We’ve seen a number of states make commitments to boost the uptake of electric transport while the Morrison Government has been asleep at the wheel on this issue.
“There’s plenty more that both states and the federal government can do to slash the upfront cost of cleaner electric cars so that Australians can cash in on the fuel savings.”
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Motor Trades Association of Queensland CEO Rod Camm said, “The government should be applauded for this initiative to bring Queensland in line with other states. It is obviously very important to get the price down on EVs to make them more affordable for consumers, and there’s no point even considering a road-user tax until you’ve got a lot of EVs on the road.
“With the price of petrol over $2 per litre, it is also the perfect time to make this announcement as the hurt is real for many Queenslanders.”
