Industry bodies are welcoming WA’s new electric vehicle uptake package
The Western Australian government is launching a $60 million electric vehicle (EV) package in its latest stage budget to encourage sustainable heavy vehicle uptake and charging infrastructure.
Roughly $36.5 million of the package will go towards $3,500 rebates for customers who purchase electric or hydrogen vehicles, allowing transport operators to introduce more sustainable models to its fleets.
WA is aligning with other Australian states and will introduce a distance-based road user charge for zero and low emission light vehicles commencing on July 1, 2027.
A base rate of 2.5 cents per kilometre will be introduced for electric and hydrogen vehicles, while two cents per kilometre will be the rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The replacement of 10,000 petrol-fuelled vehicles with electric or hydrogen vehicles is expected to reduce carbon emissions by at least 7,000 tonnes per year according to the WA government.
The government will also invest $22.6 million in new charging infrastructure to expand the state’s electric vehicle charging network so transport operators throughout the state will have many opportunities to recharge while delivering.
The decision has been welcomed by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), who says the commitment is the right sustainable decision.
“The WA government’s commitment to expand charging infrastructure is a proactive step forwards preparing for the future electrification of our road network,” FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says.
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“These rebates are going to help make owning an electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle possible for more WA road users and sends a positive signal for manufacturers that electrification will be a key element in Australia’s transport future.”
But Weber says the introduction of the new road user charge from 2027 for these vehicles must remain consistent with tax reform undertaken in other jurisdictions.
“However, the FCAI maintains that all taxes and charges related to vehicles should be replaced,” he says.
“It should be changed to one road user charge which can apply to any type of vehicle powertrain.”