Extract from The Guardian
Palaszczuk government to support purchases of EVs cheaper than $58,000 and invest $10m in charging stations.
The Queensland government has announced $45m for incentives for the upfront purchases of electric vehicles.
Wed 16 Mar 2022 10.49 AEDT
Last modified on Wed 16 Mar 2022 10.51 AEDTThe 10-year strategy includes measures the state says will help to drive down emissions and ultimately help Queensland meet its net zero commitment by 2050.
Alongside the strategy, the government will announce it is committing $55m to new initiatives: $45m for incentives for upfront purchases of EVs cheaper than $58,000 from July 1, and $10m to build new charging stations.
There are about 8,000 electric vehicles currently registered in Queensland and the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the new strategy – announced as petrol prices hit record highs – aims to assist buyers with making the change.
“It will also support jobs and create a better environment.”
The transport minister, Mark Bailey, said the strategy “signals a fundamental shift in our transport system”
“Not only does this encourage people to buy electric vehicles, it gives the automotive industry confidence to set up shop in Queensland,” Bailey said.
“Queensland is one of the sunniest and windiest places on Earth and can become a renewable energy superpower, creating a sustainable jobs boom.”
The new strategy includes other measures the state says are already under way, including the augmentation of the electricity grid to cope with a projected long-term increase in charging demand.
The government had already announced that new buses in south-east Queensland would be zero emissions, and soon all new state government fleet vehicles will be electric, provided there is a fit-for-purpose option.
“Transforming the QFleet will save Queenslanders millions in fuel costs but most significantly, when they have done their service with frontline workers – our nurses, community carers and educators – these high-quality, fully serviced, usually low-kilometre used vehicles will be available for Queenslanders at highly affordable prices,” De Brenni said.
“That will deliver a clear signal and pipeline to car manufacturers, battery and minerals manufacturers and charging infrastructure manufacturers that Queensland is the place to grow their business and continue to build on our state’s successful jobs and economic results.”
“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,” said Stephanie Gray from Solar Citizens.
“Government support for the rollout of electric vehicles is vital for Australian families to have a long-term solution to battle volatile petrol prices.”
Gray said the price tag of electric vehicles remained a major barrier for most people, with relatively few options on the market for less than $58,000..
“The $3,000 rebate … 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.”
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