Victoria wants EVs to account for half of sales by 2030, and she is offering financial incentives to start moving to EVs.

The Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus is now available in Victoria for $59,990 plus travel expenses.

Ironically, Victoria is taking the lead in Australia's electric vehicle (EV) transition, with her government not only announcing bold sales plans but also offering financial incentives to help it do so.

Indeed, the state, which wants to introduce the world's first toll for electric vehicles on July 1, is also taking the biggest steps toward the future of cars seen locally to date.

By 2030, the state government wants 50% of new car sales in Victoria to be zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

To help Victoria reach that level, the state government is offering ZEV buyers over $20,000 in subsidies of up to $3000, of which $4000 is already available, but the catch is that the MSRP of new vehicles must be below $69,000.

As such, only a few BEVs in the market are eligible, and these include the MG ZS EV small SUV ($43,990), Hyundai Ioniq Electric small hatchback ($48,970 to $53,010 to $49,990 plus travel expenses), small hatchback Nissan Leaf (from $60,490 to $49,990 to $55,650 to $62,825). + ORC), Renault Kangoo ZE small van ($62,000 + ORC), Mini Cooper SE light hatchback ($66,000 to $3 + ORC), Hyundai Kona Electric small SUV ($62,900 + ORC) and Tesla Model XNUMX Standard Range Plus medium size. sedan ($XNUMX XNUMX + ORC).

The state government is also spending $19 million on at least 50 new charging stations across Victoria and plans to add 400 new electric vehicles to its fleet over the next two years with another 10 million in investment.

Commenting on the news, Federal Chamber of the Automotive Industry (FCAI) Executive Director Tony Weber said: “We have worked closely with the Victorian government to find a holistic approach to increasing the use of electric vehicles through specific investments and climate targets.

“However, the FCAI has concerns about the ambitious goal of having EVs account for 50% of new car sales in Victoria by 2030 and warns that governments should focus on CO2 emissions targets rather than mandatory use of specific technologies. ".