Citizens of the Australian state of Victoria will soon pay more for EVs, as the state announced plans to scrap a $3,000 state subsidy for EVs almost a year earlier than planned.<\/p>\n
The cost-cutting measure would put the state behind Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia in electric vehicle incentives. It also comes as the outcome of a high court challenge<\/a> to a state tax on electric vehicles is being awaited.<\/p>\n A government spokesperson said the subsidy had already helped the state move closer to its emissions reduction goal: “We’ve laid the groundwork to achieve our target of 50% of all light vehicle sales being [zero-emission vehicles] by 2030.” This was countered by the state’s Green party transport spokesperson, Katherine Copsey, who said cutting the subsidy was a backward step that would compound the effect of the state\u2019s electric vehicle user tax: “Victorian Labor\u2019s electric vehicle policy was already the world\u2019s worst and somehow it just got worse. It’s disappointing that this government continues to punish Victorians who want to reduce their emissions and boost climate-friendly transport.”<\/p>\n