Tuesday’s New South Wales state budget includes $38 million more for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, pushing the state’s total electric vehicle package past $630 million.
The new money will co-fund 500 more kerbside charge points and dozens more within apartment carparks, while $18 million is for grants to speed up the rollout of charging stations.
“Rolling out extra chargers will allow more EV drivers to benefit from their cheaper running costs and a cleaner, quieter and more sustainable road network,” Treasure and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said.
“You’ll never be far from a charger on our major highways, in regional destinations, apartment buildings and on kerbsides in metropolitan areas with limited off-street parking.”
The new $38 million takes the state’s electric vehicle (EV) package to $633 million. The package includes limited $3,000 rebates on some new vehicles, stamp duty exemptions, and charging infrastructure.
It was unveiled in last year’s budget, and widely welcomed by EV groups as the most supportive package in the country. Underpinning legislation passed within months with bipartisan support.
The original $480 million package was topped up later in the year with $105 million to target fleet buyers in an effort to drive a second-hand market for EVs, after federal Labor had committed to introduce a similar tactic nationally.
The $38 million in Tuesday’s state budget for EV charging will be split between kerbside, residential building, and charging stations, to be built in partnership with the private sector.
$10 million will go to co-funding 500 kerbside charge points for on-street parking in residential streets that have limited private off-street parking.
Another $10 million will be used to co-fund 125 medium and large apartment buildings with more than 100 car parking spaces to make EV charging electrical upgrades.
The largest portion of the new funding commitment is $18 million of EV fast charging grants to speed up the rollout of stations. The grants will also be available to increase charging points at existing stations,
“This funding will help communities stay connected and help holidaymakers hit the road to enjoy weekend trips as NSW motorists gear up for the next era of driving,” Mr Kean said.
New South Wales is also introducing a controversial road user charge of 2.5c per kilometre charge for EV drivers or 2c per km for plug in hybrid EVs.
The charge is a way to recoup some of the revenue lost to incentives and partially replace the fuel excise which EV drivers do not pay, but EVs drivers will save around $300 annually by not paying the fuel excise, according to the government.
New South Wales will also defer the charge to the earlier of 2027 or when EVs make up at least 30 per cent of new car sales to encourage EV uptake.
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