THE minister for climate change and energy, Chris Bowen, has announced details of how the Albanese Government’s EV charger rebates for car dealers and independent EV repairers will work as the $60 million program begins its rollout.
The program was initially announced as a concept at the time of the announcement of the New Vehicle Efficiency Scheme (NVES) and the government has since been working out the details.
In a statement to GoAutoNews Premium, Mr Bowen said the $60 million Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally (DRIVEN) program is designed to “help small businesses drive into the EV era”.
From today the DRIVEN program will provide dealerships and EV repairers with the opportunity to claim a rebate of up to $2500 to install eligible smart EV chargers.
The rebate claimed by dealers and repairers can include multiple EV chargers but there is a limit of up to $20,000 per site.
The scheme includes dealers and repairers in remote and regional areas.
You can apply if you:
- Have an Australian business number (ABN)
- Have an account with an Australian financial institution
- Are an entity, incorporated in Australia.
You must also be one of the following:
- A licenced motor dealer/trader
- A service centre associated with a licenced motor dealer/trader
- An automotive repair business, compliant with Australian Standards 5732:202 2 (EV operations – maintenance and repair) and which has at least one current member of staff suitable qualified to undertake work on EVs.
You can’t apply if you are:
- Any organisation not included in eligible entities listed above
- A business operating out of a residential premises
- An organisation, or your project partner is an organisation included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme.
Eligibility for rebate
To be eligible for a rebate, you must have purchased and installed at least one eligible smart EV charger(s) at an eligible site (listed in section 4.2 of the grant opportunity Guidelines) on or after 26 March 2024.
Eligible smart EV chargers include:
- AC plugs with 7 kW charging speed (single phase)
- AC plugs with 11-22 kW charging speed
- DC plugs with 50 kW or less charging speed.
Mr Bowen said: “We back Australia’s car dealers and EV repairers, which is why it means dealers will have the chargers when and where they need them to make sure customers and workers are always charged up and ready to hit the road.
“The DRIVEN program is part of the Albanese Government’s Driving the Nation fund. It’s part of how we’re delivering the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which is designed to ensure OEMs prioritise Australia for more choice of cleaner and cheaper-to-run cars.
“Our dealerships and EV repairers play a big role in our communities, by educating customers about electrification and as significant employers and trainers of new energy apprentices.
“By investing in chargers, we are making sure everyone can be part of the EV rollout, including smaller businesses and dealerships.
“The Albanese Government is DRIVEN to ensure small businesses, like dealerships and EV repairers, have the tools to thrive as global industry changes,” Mr Bowen’s statement said.
The government statement also detailed programs it has been undertaking to support auto retail customers.
Along with the DRIVEN program, the Federal Government is investing through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to help customers choose cleaner, cheaper to run cars.
COMMONWEALTH BANK EV ACCESS PROGRAM
- Backed by $150 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the Commonwealth Bank is now offering discounted EV loans for workers earning less than $100,000 a year, as well as essential workers like police officers, teachers, fire fighters and nurses.
- Interest rates on the loans are up to 5 percentage points lower than standard rates, which could save EV buyers more than $8,000 for a $40,000 loan with a 7 year term.
- The CEFC finance supports discounted loans for new and used EVs worth up to $55,000, as well as home EV charging equipment.
METROECO LOANS
- Supported by $100 million from the CEFC, the Metro Finance MetroEco loan makes it cheaper for small-to-medium sized businesses to finance electric vehicles, trucks and forklifts, solar PV and batteries and a range of equipment that supports reduced energy use.
- Eligible commercial and consumer loan customers will receive a one percentage point discount on Metro’s standard rate. For example, eligible customers could save about $1,700 in interest over five years to finance a $60,000 EV.
FIRSTMAC GREEN CAR LOAN
- Backed by $50 million from the CEFC, the Firstmac Green Car Loan gives eligible customers purchasing an EV a one percentage point discount from the marketable rate, which over five years, could save customers about $1,400 on a loan for $50,000, or about $2,500 on a loan for $90,000.
- The CEFC finance supports a discount for eligible EVs priced under $90,000.
Applications for the DRIVEN program are now open – click here.
By Neil Dowling