The Electric Vehicle Council has welcomed the Australian Labor Party’s recent pledge to make EVs more affordable through its Electric Car Discount. The proposed changes would exempt many EVs from import tariffs and add a fringe benefits tax.

These exemptions will be available to all EVs below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel efficient vehicles ($77,565 in 2020-21).

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari applauded the ALP’s announcement: “Australians want to make the switch to electric vehicles, but the lack of leadership nationally has limited their options.

“Electric vehicles are cheaper to run, require less maintenance and are better for the environment. It is only government inaction that is causing us to trail the rest of the world in electric vehicle uptake.

“This policy would encourage car manufacturers to import and supply more affordable electric models in Australia. This makes it a win for the environment and a win for fairness.”

He adds that this is the type of action that has been take up by world leaders from all sides of politics.

“Unlike Victorian Labor, which is making EVs more expensive with an unnecessary and premature electric vehicle tax, the federal ALP has steered in the right direction,” Behyad says.