Page 19 - drive a2b july 2020 web

the ACT does offer a stamp-duty exemption on Models such as the Audi e-tron, MG ZS EV,
new ones purchased). Mini Electric and Porsche Taycan are set to
arrive in Australia in the second half of 2020,
As well as no incentives or deductions, EV and this could give sales of EVs an extra boost.
charging infrastructure isn’t as accessible in
Australia, which restricts uptake and demand There is also a proposed NSW government
even more. initiative to incentivise private and fleet
buyers to purchase EVs.
Even though the Australian vehicle market has
experienced its greatest drop in sales in at least "The NSW government has indicated it's going
30 years due to COVID-19 – with overall sales to try and get funding [for those incentives]
down by 35% in April this year compared to the faster than expected," said Mr Jafari.
previous two years – sales of EVs, PHEVs and
HEVs leaped considerably, even with a small We get more and more EV, PHEV and
number; this suggests a fundamental change HEV options in Australia each year, but
may be occurring in the market nonetheless. their cost is still a major barrier to their
uptake.
Demand for EVs in Australia among private
individuals, rather than businesses or While the notion of ‘affordable EVs, PHEVs and
government fleets, increased by an astonishing HEVs’ may seem like an oxymoron, it is more All in all, we
56% in the first five months of this year. than possible to buy a new model for under have deduced
$50,000. Few would call $50,000 inexpensive, that for EVs to
Moreover, an approximate of more than 1000 but when you consider the petrol an EV, PHEV
Tesla vehicles were sold in Australia in the or HEV could save you over a period of several gain hold in
first three months of this year. The arrival of years, the price can be seen as reasonable. Australia at a
Tesla Model 3 and other affordable models in quicker rate,
Australia is said to have been the driving force The COVID-19 pandemic has already changed there needs
of the growth in EVs here. life as we know it. However, one thing that to be an
remains predictable is our need for safe, cost-
An EV policy in Australia was expected to be effective transportation. This current crisis improvement
announced by mid-2020, but whether this will may mean less cars are purchased altogether in model
be the case is no longer known as a result of in the next few years – in spite of that, some availability,
the pandemic. people may prefer to purchase an EV during more all-
this time.
Without fresh policies, standards or embracing
regulations, progress in Australia will Owning your own EV would allow you to EV policies,
continue to be gradual. travel without being in close proximity standards and
with others, and that makes this method incentives
Behyad Jafari, CEO of Australia's Electric of transportation a safer pick during the
Vehicle Council, believes the continued rise pandemic, in comparison to public transport. and
of EVs is mainly caused by an increase in the additional
availability of new models. If you have a good idea of which model you corporate and
want to buy, now is the time to look into government
"The good news is that we were talking about whether or not there are any worthy deals on
2019 as a breakthrough year for EVs because it. fleet
then we tripled sales, and now we're beating electrification
that again in 2020 in the midst of a global by Cindy Man Hun targets
pandemic." achieved.

DRIVE A2B magazine · www.drivea2b.com.au · July 2020 19