Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced her government will be committing $15 million dollars a year to an electric vehicle subsidy scheme aimed at making it easier for Queenslanders to make the switch. Residents who purchase an electric vehicle (EV) with a price tag of less than $58,000 in the next three years will be eligible for a $3,000 subsidy.
Part of the bigger picture
The announcement of the $3,000 subsidy has been linked to the Queensland government’s ongoing commitment to reducing emissions and tackling climate change. While the price of EVs is still prohibitive for many Australians, this subsidy helps to bridge the gap for many residents. Since the Federal government has made almost no moves towards encouraging Australians to go electric, States are going it alone to try and make EVs more affordable.
“This announcement is a key part of our Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy: the goal is to reduce our emissions and reduce the impact of climate change,” said the Premier
Charging stations are also being considered under the new scheme, with the state government committing $10 million dollars to help fund charging stations with local governments and companies.
What cars can you buy?
At this stage, there are 6 electric vehicles on the Australian market that fall under the $58,000 price range and are therefore eligible for the subsidy. Those vehicles are:
- Hyundai Ioniq – From $54,591
- Hyundai Kona – From $54,500
- Nissan Leaf – From $49,990
- MG ZS Essence – From $42,990
- BYD Atto 2 – Due in late 2022, approx. $35,000
- BYD Atto 3 – From $44,790
While the Federal government has recently made reference to a ‘Future Fuels’ fund, which among other things aims to put 1.7 million EVs on the road by 2030, this hinges on the result of the upcoming federal election. Also, no specifics have been released as to whether EVs would be any cheaper under this plan.
Maximising EV ownership
While it’s great news that Queensland’s commitment will include making charging stations more accessible, there are ways to maximise your EV ownership through solar energy. If you choose to buy an EV, you can have a charging station installed at your home, however, the cost may be prohibitive for some.
As such, you can charge your EV from a regular 3-pin socket at home, although the charging time will be a bit higher. To save even more money, if you install solar at home, you can charge your vehicle with free energy from the sun! For more information about installing solar at home, contact AHLEC Solar today.
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