The Electric Vehicle Council has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement on the Electric Car Discount, describing the outcome as a win for Australian families who will continue to have access to the full Discount for the majority of EVs for the next three years.

EVC Chief Executive Julie Delvecchio said the decision gives Australians a clear pathway to ditch petrol costs and the certainty to act now – with no changes taking effect until April 2027.

“This is good news for everyday Australians who are doing the sums on going electric,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“The Albanese Government and Minister Bowen have listened and shown they understand EVs are a cost-of-living measure. This decision means most electric cars in Australia will remain eligible for the Electric Car Discount, allowing people to save thousands on their annual fuel bills.

“This is especially important for outer suburban households – which are strongly represented in EV leasing uptake – where people drive more and spend more on fuel. Keeping EVs accessible means real savings where it matters most.”

Key changes

Under the updated settings:

• No changes will apply until 1 April 2027
• From April 2027:
  • EVs priced up to $75,000 will continue to receive the full FBT exemption
  • EVs priced between $75,000 and the fuel-efficient LCT threshold (currently ~$91,000) will receive a 25% FBT discount applied to the full vehicle value
• From April 2029:
  • All eligible EVs under the LCT threshold will receive a 25% FBT discount, with no current end date

Existing arrangements will be grandfathered, ensuring current EV drivers and leaseholders are unaffected.

Stability for households and industry

The EVC said the extended timeline will continue to support Australians facing cost-of-living pressures and provide financial sustainability for the incentive.

“Electric vehicles are increasingly a cost-of-living solution, saving households around $3,000 per year in fuel and maintenance,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“Crucially, most EVs on the market – including popular models from BYD, Tesla and Hyundai – will remain eligible for the full exemption until 2029.”

Supporting Australia’s 2035 targets

The Council said the Government’s decision reflects the importance of maintaining demand-side incentives to complement the National Vehicle Efficiency Standard which is bringing increased supply of affordable EVs to Australia.

These two policies are critical to hitting Australia’s target of five million EVs on the road by 2035, in line with advice from the Climate Change Authority.

“Today’s decision protects our progress toward the 2035 target and keeps it ambitious but within reach,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“From our perspective, the priority is simple – keep policy stable, scale charging infrastructure, and remove barriers so more Australians can switch.”

The Council will continue to work closely with the government to monitor EV uptake and ensure policy settings evolve in step with the market.

The post Powering Savings: Electric Car Discount to Continue for Everyday Aussies first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

Tesla and Polestar sold a combined 7,725 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, up from 5,549 in the same period in 2025.

In March 2026 alone, Polestar and Tesla sold a combined 3,645 new vehicles with March sales growing 21.1% year-on-year and up 6.6% from the previous month, February 2026.

EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said interest in EVs was growing rapidly, as people look to save up to $3,000 per year in running costs.

Second-hand EV sales in March for Pickles were up 60% on February and EV searches on the Pickles website jumped 163% month‑on‑month.

New data from Pickles shows 82% of used EVs are selling under $50,000 – with 43% under $30,000. Commonwealth Bank reported their lending data saw a 161% lift in demand for EV finance since the start of March.

EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said the numbers reflected a fundamental shift in how Australians think about EVs.

“With fuel prices rising, every EV on the road is doing something simple but powerful – taking pressure off fuel supply for the people who need it most.” 

“EV drivers are driving the country’s fuel resilience while cutting costs on their household budget. This has never been more important than now, given the PM’s address urging people to use petrol and diesel responsibly and ‘save fuel for people who have no choice but to drive”. 

“Volatile global oil markets are changing the conversation. Australians aren’t asking whether EVs are the future anymore. They’re asking which one they can get their hands on, and when.”

Thom Drew, Tesla Country Director, Australia & New Zealand said more stock is on the way.

“The fuel crisis is pushing Australians to look for more certainty – both on energy and cost of living – and EVs are delivering exactly that.

“We’re seeing strong customer demand clear out local stock, so we’re ramping up Q2 supply, with more vehicles arriving over the coming weeks.”

Scott Maynard, Polestar Australia Managing Director said the market is changing.

“There is a clear sense of urgency from customers, which is driving strong order volumes. Interest in Polestar’s electric cars is surging in Australia. Test drive bookings have tripled in the last fortnight, and traffic to our showrooms is what we’d expect to see during a sale event. The vulnerable state of our nation’s fuel security has been exposed, and won’t magically improve when the current crisis ends.”

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Brand Director Nathan Johnson said operating costs are driving interest.

“We’re seeing steady growth in enquiries and conversion for electric Volkswagen passenger and commercial vehicles, with more businesses exploring how EVs can reduce operating costs in everyday use. While the transition is happening gradually, interest is clearly rising and our expanding electric lineup in Australia is designed to support customers as they take their first steps into e‑mobility.”

Hyundai’s Chief Operating Officer Gavin Donaldson said market conditions are driving uptake.

“Hyundai is seeing a clear increase in consumer interest in electric vehicles as Australians respond to rising petrol prices and heightened global fuel market uncertainty. These conditions are accelerating the shift toward EVs, which offer lower running costs, greater energy security and reduced exposure to international supply shocks.” 

Audi Australia’s Brand Director Jeff Mannering, said knowledge of EVs is improving.

“What we’re seeing now is a maturing BEV and PHEV market where customers arrive with a better understanding of the technology, charging and real‑world range. That shift in confidence is accelerating demand for our electric and plug-in hybrid models, and we are experiencing momentum for these models online and in showrooms.”

Julie Delvecchio said now was not the time to change policy settings to make EVs more expensive.

“The Electric Car Discount, currently under review, is making EVs more available than ever before. Removing or scaling it back risks depriving Australians of $3,000 a year in savings on fuel and maintenance costs. With the cost-of-living front of mind for every Australian family, those savings couldn’t be more timely.”

“What we’re seeing is a tipping point. The fuel crisis hasn’t created interest in EVs – it’s accelerated a shift that was already underway. Our website saw almost 100,000 page views in the past month, up 71%, with 97% of visitors new to our site. The most visited page? ‘EVs available in Australia.’ Australians are ready – the industry needs to meet them there.”

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With global oil markets under pressure, Australian motorists are once again bearing the brunt of international instability at the bowser.

“Every time there is conflict in oil-producing regions, Australians pay the price,” said Julie Delvecchio, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council.

“The latest spike underscores a simple truth: as long as Australia relies on imported oil, households remain exposed to global shocks beyond our control.

“Electric vehicles help families cut their transport costs by up to $3,000 per year – and most of that saving comes from avoiding the cost of petrol, which is currently over $2 a litre.”

Ms Delvecchio said retaining the Electric Car Discount, which has already helped more than 114,000 Australians switch to electric vehicles, was one of the most effective ways to help households avoid soaring petrol costs.

“Retaining the Electric Car Discount is more important than ever. The policy, which is under review, is helping Australians switch to EVs, giving them more control over their household budgets,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“EVs are cheaper to run and don’t face the same exposure to global oil shocks. Their “fuel” is electricity – often cheaper off-peak and free for households with rooftop solar. Add lower servicing costs and EVs protect families from the rollercoaster of global petrol prices.”

Cost-of-living relief Australians can bank on

Unlike petrol prices, which fluctuate daily based on global events, electricity prices are more stable and increasingly powered by Australian-made renewable energy. Drivers who switch to EVs are shielded from oil price volatility and benefit from significantly lower running and maintenance costs.

At current petrol prices, the savings from driving electric are even greater, putting thousands of dollars back into the pockets of working Australians each year.

The Electric Car Discount has been instrumental in making EVs more affordable for everyday Australians, particularly through reducing the upfront cost barrier.

 National security and energy independence

Australia imports $40 billion of oil each year which makes up 6% of our imports. Ongoing instability in the Middle East highlights the national security risks of relying on foreign oil supply chains.

“Supporting EV uptake is not just climate policy or industry policy – it’s national security policy,” Ms Delvecchio said. “Every electric vehicle on our roads reduces Australia’s dependence on imported oil and strengthens our resilience in times of global uncertainty.”

The Electric Vehicle Council is urging both federal and state governments to:

• Protect and strengthen the Electric Car Discount
• Re-introduce state-based EV incentives
• Accelerate the rollout of public charging infrastructure
• Continue investment in Australia’s renewable energy capacity.

The post Retaining Electric Car Discount Key to Shielding Australians from Soaring Petrol Prices first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

Public health has been the “missing part of the equation” in Australia’s heavy vehicle laws for decades, according to the University of Melbourne’s new expert position statement released today. Pollution from trucks and buses is contributing to premature deaths, heart disease, childhood asthma and lung cancer. These costs affect everyone – whether you use the roads or not – and are largely invisible in current transport policy.

Heavy vehicles (those over 4.5 tonnes) produce around a quarter of on-road transport emissions and are a major source of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), a pollutant strongly linked to cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Even at Australia’s relatively low average pollution levels, chronic exposure is associated with asthma, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and premature death. There is no safe threshold.

The EVC’s Senior Policy Officer for Heavy Vehicles, Cameron Rimington, says the findings add new impetus for drastic action to switch to cleaner freight vehicles.

“We’ve always known that burning diesel and breathing what comes out of the tailpipe is bad for us. This new research shows us just how bad. Switching to cleaner, electric options is not some distant climate policy out on the never-never; it’s a public health priority right now.”

“This research makes clear that continuing to rely on diesel trucks and buses is costing Australians dearly — in hospital admissions, chronic disease and premature deaths. This research puts a dollar figure on the damage — $6.2 billion every year. That’s a cost Australians are paying whether they drive or not.”

“Currently, there is very little support to help Australian drivers to shift away from diesel. India and New Zealand offer more incentives to help their truckies go electric than Australia does. They understand that heavy EVs aren’t just about reduced operating costs for drivers – the rest of society also benefits from less pollution, better air quality and reduced health costs.”

The EVC is also advocating for the establishment of Australia’s first low-emission “Clean Air Zone”. Mr Rimington says such policies have been hugely successful overseas by gradually limiting access for the most polluting vehicles in dense population centres.

“In Melbourne’s inner west, where truck volumes are especially high, hundreds of excess childhood asthma cases are estimated to be linked to heavy vehicle pollution. Clean Air Zones should be the top of the agenda for all state and local governments who care about the air we breathe.”

You can access the full report, The Unpriced Burden: Heavy vehicle emissions and the $6.2 billion health cost, here.

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EVC Chief Executive Officer, Julie Delvecchio said the results demonstrate the success of the Federal Government’s landmark reform and expose the scaremongering that surrounded its introduction.

“When the NVES was legislated, critics warned of supply shortages, soaring prices and market disruption,” Ms Delvecchio said. “Instead, the first performance report shows strong industry performance, healthy competition and a clear acceleration in cleaner vehicles coming to Australia.

“The data confirms what we said all along – clear, predictable standards drive innovation and investment. They don’t break markets, they modernise them.

“Emissions are coming down, cleaner and more affordable cars are arriving in Australia, choice is expanding and EV sales are growing. That’s exactly the momentum we need to reach five million EVs on our roads by 2035.”

Industry Leadership Recognised

The EVC congratulated leading manufacturers including Tesla and Polestar for their public advocacy of the NVES model and their strong performance under the scheme.

“Tesla and Polestar put a stake in the ground early, arguing that Australia needed a modern efficiency standard to unlock supply and investment,” Ms Delvecchio said. “Their leadership helped shift the national conversation from fear to facts.”

NVES + Electric Car Discount = Real Savings for Drivers

The EVC said the release of today’s performance report also highlights how the NVES, working in unison with the Electric Car Discount (EV FBT exemption), is improving access and affordability for Australian households and fleets.

“With the NVES pulling cleaner cars into Australia and the Electric Car Discount helping more working Australians access them, this policy alignment is delivering real outcomes. It is smart policy translating into real savings for households,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“More supply means more competition. More competition means better choice and downward pressure on running costs. Electric vehicles are already around $3,000 a year cheaper to drive, and this framework is helping to bring upfront prices down compared to petrol and diesel cars.”

Time to Strengthen Targets – Not Slow Down

While welcoming the strong outperformance on emissions from suppliers of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, the EVC said the results should prompt a forward-looking review to strengthen future targets rather than allow excess credits to dampen momentum.

“The fact that many petrol and diesel car manufacturers outperformed their year one NVES targets show the benchmarks were more than achievable,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“It would be counterproductive to now allow large volumes of banked credits to slow the pace of clean vehicle supply in coming years. The initial success of the NVES should give policymakers confidence to steadily strengthen its trajectory and keep Australia aligned with global markets.

“Australia cannot afford to become a dumping ground for higher-emitting vehicles while other countries move faster.”

A Turning Point for Australia’s Vehicle Market

The EVC said the first NVES performance report marks a turning point for Australia’s transport sector.

“For too long, Australians were offered fewer low-emissions models than drivers in Europe, the UK or the United States,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“The NVES is working exactly as intended – rewarding manufacturers who bring cleaner vehicles to Australia and giving consumers more choice.”

“This is proof that smart, coordinated policy can accelerate cleaner transport, lower running costs for families and strengthen Australia’s position in the global automotive market.”

The post NVES Report Card: Two-Thirds of Car Suppliers Beat Targets in Year One – More Choice and Lower Costs for Drivers first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

The new Board brings together senior leaders from the automotive, energy, finance, charging infrastructure, technology and community sectors, reflecting the depth and maturity of Australia’s EV ecosystem. For the first time, women hold the majority of Board positions, an achievement that stands out in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

Incoming and returning Board members include:

• Chau Le (Chair) – General Manager, E-Mobility, Origin
• Tim Burdon (Deputy Chair) – Executive Manager, Cars & Home Energy, Commonwealth Bank
• Jane Butler – General Manager, Electrification & Innovation, AGL
• Vicki Slavina – Chief Operating Officer, JOLT
• Mary Ellen (Nell) Payne – COO, NRMA Energy
• Claire Painter – GM Corporate & Regulatory Affairs, JET Charge
• Vida Cheeseman – Head of Corporate Communications, Endeavour Energy
• Scott Maynard – Managing Director, Polestar Australia & New Zealand
• Thom Drew – Country Director, Tesla Australia & New Zealand
• Sam McLean – Energy Futures Foundation Director
• Julie Delvecchio – EVC CEO

EVC CEO, Julie Delvecchio said the new Board reflects the Council’s commitment to accelerating electrification across Australia.

“Our refreshed EVC Board collectively brings deep expertise across the EV industry ranging from car and truck manufacturers, energy companies to charging businesses and much more”, Ms Delvecchio said.

“Australia’s EV transition is now moving from early adopters to the mainstream and the next phase requires a clear and proactive policy approach, rapid infrastructure rollout and enhanced consumer confidence.

“This Board brings the leadership and unity needed to strengthen our role in driving a coordinated, national shift towards clean transport.”

EVC Board Chair, Chau Le said it was an exciting time to be involved in the clean transport sector.

“The EV industry is growing and the EVC is the industry’s leading voice – its expertise and relationships with government and industry are shaping that future.

EVC Board Director Profiles:

Chau Le – Chair: Leads Origin’s E-mobility division; established one of Australia’s most comprehensive EV customer platforms spanning leasing, charging, V2G and energy solutions. Director since 2021.

Tim Burdon – Deputy Chair: Leads EV financing, energy-upgrade programs and OEM partnerships at CommBank, connecting financial solutions with Australia’s emerging EV ecosystem.

Jane Butler – AGL executive with two decades in energy, renewables and innovation; currently driving transport electrification initiatives at national scale.

Vida Cheeseman – Corporate affairs and energy-network executive at Endeavour Energy; expert in stakeholder engagement, electrification policy and social licence.

Thom Drew – Tesla’s Country Director for Australia & NZ; a decade leading Tesla’s sales, delivery and ownership experience, plus former FCAI board representative.

Scott Maynard – Managing Director of Polestar ANZ; 25+ years in automotive leadership across major luxury and EV brands including Audi, Jaguar Land Rover and BYD.

Sam McLean – Policy and government relations leader representing the Energy Futures Foundation; former Tesla government relations head and long-standing climate policy advocate.

Claire Painter – Senior regulatory and policy leader at JET Charge, shaping national charging standards, market design, and OEM collaboration across the EV ecosystem.

Mary Ellen (Nell) Payne – COO of NRMA Energy, overseeing Australia’s national charging rollout; engineering, policy and operational transformation specialist with deep government partnerships experience.

Vicki Slavina – Global COO of JOLT, with leadership experience across high-growth tech, sustainability and international operations; previously McKinsey Associate Partner.

The post Electric Vehicle Council Welcomes New Board, Marking a Historic Step Forward for Diversity in Australia’s EV Industry first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

In its submission to the Federal Government’s statutory review of the Electric Car Discount, the EVC said the policy has been a game‑changer – propelling more than 105,000 additional EV purchases, tripling the size of the second-hand EV market and delivering up to $3 in economic and health benefits for every dollar invested.

EVC CEO, Julie Delvecchio said the industry welcomed the review of the Electric Car Discount at a time when policy certainty around accelerating EV uptake remained critical to Australia’s 2035 emission reduction targets.

“The Electric Car Discount has helped take Australia from an EV trickle to a real market for people who want to drive cleaner cars and save up to $3,000 each year on fuel and maintenance,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“With EV upfront costs still higher than comparable internal combustion engine cars, tens of thousands of Australians living in outer suburbs – including firefighters, teachers and nurses – could only afford their first EV thanks to the Electric Car Discount.

“The Discount has also stimulated a wave of affordable, off-lease EVs that are now flowing through to the second-hand market, putting them within reach of more everyday Australians.

“However, the job is not done. Australia’s EV adoption needs to accelerate towards the target of 5 million EVs by 2035, and international experience clearly shows that removing demand-side incentives too soon can have a drastic impact on EV uptake.

“We know the risks that come with removing EV incentives too early. Canada and Germany have both recently re-introduced EV subsidies worth $CAD2.3 billion and €3 billion, respectively, after the premature withdrawal of incentives reduced EV sales by up to 12 per cent.

“We look forward to working with the Government to ensure the Electric Car Discount continues to support the growth of EVs which is central to Australia achieving its emission reduction goals”, Ms Delvecchio said.

Electric Car Discount has delivered big results

The EVCs submission highlights the many achievements the Electric Car Discount has delivered:

• Uptake surge: Removing FBT on eligible EVs has made salary‑packaging dramatically more affordable. EVs jumped from about 1% to 50% of all novated‑lease vehicle orders. Independent analysis attributes more than 105,000 additional EV purchases between 2022 and 2024 to the policy.
• Broad market impact: EV market share has risen to 13.1% of the total market – a dramatic increase from 2% in 2021 – but there are still fewer than 500,000 EVs in Australia’s 20‑million‑vehicle fleet.
• Second-hand market stimulus: The Discount has helped to grow the second-hand market for EVs. Data from Pickles Auctions found 49% of second-hand EVs sold in 2025 were fleet and lease vehicles, with average battery health of 96.2%.

• Environmental and health benefits: Independent modelling shows the Discount delivered $2.25 in economic, environmental and health benefits for every dollar of cost between 2022‑2025, rising to $3 per dollar between 2026‑2030. Benefits include reduced fuel imports, improved air quality, lower health costs and a growing second‑hand EV market.

Risks of winding back support

• Premature withdrawal stalls progress. When the Electric Car Discount for plug‑in hybrids ended in March 2025, novated‑lease settlements for PHEVs collapsed by 94% within a single quarter, returning to pre‑policy levels.
• International evidence. Germany’s reduction of EV subsidies saw market share slide from 31% in 2022 to 19% in 2024, prompting a new €3 billion support scheme from January 2026. New Zealand’s repeal of its Clean Car Discount pushed market share down from 27% to 11%.

Policy recommendations

The EVC’s submission urges the Government to ensure that EVs remain affordable for working Australian families and that uptake continues to accelerate towards 5 million EVs by 2035. Key recommendations include:

• Taper the FBT exemption using objective thresholds linked to EV uptake and emissions targets instead of arbitrary dates.
• Expand demand‑side incentives to Australians who cannot access novated leasing, such as direct consumer rebates or GST exemptions.
• Close taxation loopholes for high‑emitting vehicles by reviewing the FBT exemption for heavy utes which has driven significant uptake of high‑emission vehicles; the top four selling utes accounted for more than 153,000 units in 2025, compared with 103,000 battery‑electric vehicles in total.
• Defer road‑user charging until EV uptake is sustained, and then introduce it universally to all vehicles.

** Read the EVCs full Submission to the Review of the Electric Car Discount here.

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The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has welcomed the release of ANCAP’s 2025 safety rankings, which confirm that electric vehicles are setting the benchmark for safety on Australian and New Zealand roads.

ANCAP’s latest results show the Tesla Model Y achieved the highest overall safety score of any vehicle tested in 2025, outperforming all other models across the four key pillars of testing – Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist.

Six of the top seven vehicles were electric including the Tesla Model 3, Volvo EX90, MG IM 5, MG S5 EV and Mini Cooper E, reinforcing that EVs are not only cleaner to drive, but are also among the safest cars available to consumers and fleets today.

Aman Gaur, Acting CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council, said the ANCAP results send a clear signal to Australian car buyers.

“The case for electric vehicles just keeps getting stronger,” Mr Gaur said. “These results prove Australians don’t have to choose between going green and staying safe on our roads.

“Electric vehicles are already delivering outstanding protection for drivers, passengers and other road users.

“As more advanced safety technologies become standard and more EV models enter the market, Australians can expect EV safety performance to continue improving year after year,” he said.

ANCAP said its testing reinforced that the safest vehicles are ‘those designed with safety as a system, not a checklist.’

Leading car makers amongst our membership – including Tesla, Volvo, Polestar and BYD – agreed the following EV design features were making driving safer for everyone:

• Floor-mounted batteries = lower centre of gravity and better stability
• Rigid battery platforms built as a safety cell
• No engine or fuel tank to intrude in a crash

Mr Gaur said the range of high-performing vehicles assessed by ANCAP in 2025 demonstrates that top-tier safety is now achievable across multiple segments, giving families, fleets and businesses greater confidence when choosing an electric vehicle.

For the full list of ANCAP safety results, visit ANCAP Safety

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