Queensland’s Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme closing soon

31 August 2024

Queensland’s $45 million Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Scheme, which has been incredibly successful in helping Queensland drivers transition to electric vehicles (EVs), will close at 11:59pm on Monday 2 September 2024.

Since 1 July 2022, the Queensland Government committed $45 million to support Queensland’s successful EV uptake and assisted with cost-of-living pressures by making EVs more affordable, through reducing upfront costs of purchasing a new eligible EV.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services Bart Mellish said the scheme had been an incredible success.

"The success of the scheme demonstrates Queensland Government’s commitment towards encouraging cleaner, greener transport modes and supporting the transition to EVs, while assisting Queenslanders with cost-of-living pressures by reducing the upfront costs of purchasing a new eligible EV," Minister Mellish said.

“The Queensland Government continues to support EV drivers by ensuring low vehicle registration fees and duties and investing in public fast EV charging infrastructure."

On 1 July 2023, the Queensland Government increased the rebate from $3,000 to $6,000 for eligible individuals who met a household income threshold and increased the vehicle threshold from $58,000 to $68,000 (inclusive of GST).

Initially planned to run for three years, the scheme has proven popular, finishing in just over two years, and benefiting over 10,000 Queensland individuals and businesses.

The pace of change in the EV market has seen significant decreases in the price of new cars with the price of popular models dropping from between as much as 10- 30 percent since the end of 2023. 

The scheme successfully helped to increase EV uptake in Queensland, with EV car registrations rising fourfold since the start of the scheme, to over 46,000 as of 31 July 2024. EV cars now make up 1% of the total car fleet in Queensland, up from only 0.2% two years ago.

The ZEV rebate scheme was an action under the Queensland's Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy 2022-2032 (ZEV Strategy) and Action Plan 2022-2024, intended to reduce the upfront costs of purchasing a new, full battery, light passenger, or light commercial ZEV.

The upfront purchase price of ZEVs has been a significant barrier to many Queenslanders who wish to transition to or purchase a ZEV as their next vehicle.

The ZEV rebate scheme has helped many lower to middle income Queenslanders access the EV market, and supported the development of the EV supply market, with almost double the number of EV models available since the inception of the scheme.

The scheme was successful in advancing progress towards achieving the ZEV Strategy target of 50% of new passenger vehicle sales to be zero emission by 2030. In the year ending June 2024, 8.5% of total Queensland's new passenger vehicle sales were zero emission, compared to 1.7% two years ago.

In just over two years, the scheme successfully:

• Supported over 10,000 Queenslanders transition to EVs.

• Boosted EV uptake in Queensland. There were over 46,000 EV passenger cars registered in Queensland as of 31 July 2024, four times more than the 9,100 at the start of the scheme.

• Accelerated the transition of the Queensland fleet towards EVs, with EV passenger cars comprising 1% of the total car fleet in Queensland, compared to 0.2% at the start of the scheme.

• Supported the EV supply market, with car manufacturers almost doubling the number of EV car models offered to Queensland drivers.

• Advanced progress towards achieving the ZEV Strategy target of 50% new passenger vehicles sales to be zero emission by 2030. In the year ending June 2024, ZEVs (including light commercial vehicles and SUVs) comprised 8.5% of total QLD’s new passenger vehicle sales, compared to 1.7% two years ago.

For more information on the Queensland Government's actions to continue to shift Queenslanders to zero emission vehicles while enjoying the benefits of an integrated energy and transport system, please go to the ZEV Strategy website.