Fleet incentives to add another 1,000 electric vehicles to NSW roads
NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean says the second round of the NSW Government’s EV fleet initiative will add another 1,000 electric vehicles to the state’s roads.
The treasurer said the additional EVs resulting from the first two rounds would increase NSW EV registrations by more than 10%, or a total of 2,000 vehicles, and the third round of funding is now open.
The NSW Government is investing $105 million to support commercial fleets to purchase new EVs and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, and trade in old petrol and diesel cars.
It is unclear whether many of those vehicles would be hydrogen fuel cell due to the lack of hydrogen pumping stations and virtually no car manufacturers selling hydrogen vehicles at any significant volume in Australia.
Kean says the Round 2 funding has been strongly taken up by organizations in the ride-sharing and vehicle subscription sectors, which account for 81.6 percent of the new EVs to be delivered as a result of the program.
“The second round had 20 successful bidders – 17 individual fleets and three fleet assemblers – who will receive a financial incentive to switch to EVs,” Kean said, adding that successful bidders will also receive financial support to build a total of more than co-financing. 1,000 smart chargers.
The successful recipients are:
Splend, Custom Fleet, Reliance, IAG, Woollahra Municipal Council, CarBon Leasing and Rentals Pty Ltd, Northern Beaches Council, Murray River Council, CB Cars Pty Ltd, Palm Investment Holdings Pty Ltd, SIXT Australia, Origin Energy, ElevenX, Lockhart Shire Council , Essential Energy, Campbelltown City Council, Ballina Shire Council, Karmo Cars and TAS Australia.
Kean said in Australia the transport sector accounted for about 22 per cent of total emissions and this scheme would help NSW reach net zero by 2050.
“Corporate and government fleets account for more than half of new vehicle sales in Australia and are a significant source of second-hand vehicles,” Mr Kean said.
“Using the bulk buying power of fleets can expand both the model range and number of EVs in NSW, meaning prices will drop and more vehicles will be available to private buyers via the second-hand market in the coming years.”
The NSW Government says the EV strategy is expected to increase EV sales to 52 per cent of new car sales by 2030-31.
Daniel Bleakley is a clean technology researcher and advocate with a background in engineering and business. He has a strong interest in electric vehicles, renewable energy, manufacturing and public policy.
