Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common in Australia and charging infrastructure is increasingly available. If you’re thinking about whether an EV is right for you, here’s what you should consider .

EV benefits

Australian drivers travel on average around 33km a day. Given that charging stations are becoming more available, EVs are an increasingly viable and convenient solution in cities, towns and major holiday destinations. There are a range of benefits to driving electric, including:

• Reduced fuel costs and higher efficiency
• Less maintenance
• Fuel security
• Reduced traffic noise
• Air quality improvements
• Good for the environment

How much does an EV cost to buy and run?

EVs generally cost more to buy than petrol and diesel vehicles. However, the purchase price of EVs are expected to become more competitive as more models become available in Australia.

Some states and territories also offer discounts on stamp duty and/or registration charges. More information on state and territory concessions for EVs can be accessed from the links below.

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

The Luxury Car Tax applies a rate of 33 per cent to the purchase price of a vehicle, above a price threshold of $89,332 for fuel efficient vehicles, or $76,950 for other vehicles in 2023-24. EV purchases that cost less than $89,332 (GST inclusive, but excluding state and territory stamp duty and registration charges) are exempt from the luxury car tax.

Building on the higher luxury car tax threshold for fuel efficient vehicles, the Australian Government has introduced the Electric Car Discount. As part of the discount, zero and low emission cars, below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel efficient vehicles, will be exempt from import tariffs and fringe benefits tax.

This measure will apply to battery electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, first made available for use on or after 1 July 2022. This measure will no longer apply to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, first made available for use on or after 1 July 2022, from 1 April 2025.

For more information on the fringe benefits tax exemptions for electric cars, visit the Australian Taxation Office.

The cost of charging an EV will depend on where you charge it and your home electricity plan. It is generally more expensive to charge an EV at a public charging station than at home.

Our home charging calculator can help you estimate the cost to charge your vehicle at home and how long it may take to charge your vehicle.

EVs have fewer parts and are likely to be cheaper to service than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

How and where can I charge an EV and how long does it take?

An EV can be charged at home from a normal wall outlet, but could take several hours, especially if your battery is low or empty. Charging your battery to 80 per cent whenever you can will help maximise your vehicle’s battery range and battery life. To minimise battery degradation, you should keep your battery at least 20 per cent charged at all times and only use fast chargers when necessary.

For faster charging at home, you can install a special charging outlet. These can be purchased from your vehicle’s manufacturer or a company that sells charging equipment for EVs.

Public charging outlets that can charge your vehicle (to 80 per cent) in less than 30 minutes are also becoming more widely available. The Australian Government and state, territory and local governments are funding new public fast charging stations to support EVs. For information on where you can find a public charging station visit the Electric Vehicle Council website.

What emissions are produced by an EV?

EVs do not produce any tailpipe emissions. As no tailpipe emissions are measured in the official emissions test, a zero figure is reported on the energy consumption label and the tailpipe figure used on the Green Vehicle Guide.

However, emissions may be produced:

• to generate the electricity for an EV
• to manufacture a vehicle and its battery (as is the case for all vehicles)
• from tyre, brake and road wear (as is the case for all vehicles).

The lifecycle emissions page has more information on how you can estimate your emissions from electricity generation. For technical reasons, it is not possible to estimate emissions for manufacturing individual vehicle models.

What EV models are available in Australia?

You can see models available in Australia and their estimated battery range using the vehicle search feature. If you only want to view EV results, please select ‘pure electric’ in the ‘fuel type’ dropdown.

How far can EVs travel without recharging?

Many EV models sold in Australia can travel over 400km before they need to be recharged.

Please note the battery range figures on the label and Green Vehicle Guide are based on a test performed in controlled conditions. Your battery range will be affected by how you use your vehicle, including:

• how much weight your vehicle is carrying
• if you are using accessories such as heating or air-conditioning
• how you accelerate and brake (many electric cars have regenerative braking to help charge your vehicle when you are slowing down).