Queensland is hoping a new $3000 electric vehicle subsidy will both further its emission reduction plans and provide relief from soaring petrol prices as bowsers in the southeast jump past $2.20 a litre.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday morning announced the state government from July 1 would provide $3000 to anyone buying an electric vehicle to the value of $58,000, a price point that extends to six models from makers including Hyundai, Kia, MG, Mini and Nissan.
“This will help the many Queenslanders currently waiting for electric vehicles to become more xjmtzywaccessible and affordable so they can make the switch,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk also nodded to surging petrol prices as a reason people may be considering a switch to electric, although the subsidy will not be available for another three months.
According to PetrolSpy, bowsers across the state’s southeast city are at or above $2.20 a litre for E10 unleaded as global oil prices remain at eye-watering levels.
“The skyrocketing price of petrol is putting enormous strain on household budgets,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I know there are plenty of Queenslanders out there who want to make the switch to electric.
A snapshot in August last year showed there were nearly 6000 electric vehicles registered in Queensland – having surged from less than 300 in 2016 – with most being registered in and around the metro southeast.”
Telsa Model 3 and Model 5 vehicles are the most common electric vehicles registered in the state, but costing more than $60,000, both are more expensive than the new subsidy allows for.
The available models include the Hyundai Ionic and Kona EV, the Kia Niro, the MG ZS EV, the Mini Countryman and the Nissan Leaf.
Ms Palaszczuk also said she would be committing an extra $10m to build more public charging stations in tandem with local governments and the private sector.
