Tasmania is set to become the electric vehicle (EV) leader of Australia, with the state government investing $600,000 for fast charging and destination chargers across the state, including in key tourism destinations.
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This is in addition to a government waiver on stamp duty on the purchase of new and second hand electric vehicle or hydrogen vehicles.
The second Electric Vehicle ChargeSmart Grants program offers individual grants of up to $50,000 towards fast charging stations, and individual grants of up to $2,500 towards destination charging stations.
The first program installed 14 fast chargers, including seven across the North and North West, including Launceston, Scottsdale, St Helens, Westbury, Devonport, Burnie and Queenstown, and 23 destination chargers.
There are a total of 136 charger locations in Tasmania.
The Good Car Company co founder Anton Vikstrom, whose company imports second hand electric vehicles into Tasmania, said having sufficient charging infrastructure across Tasmania was the first step to increasing EV popularity.
"There are a number of factors that go into making a purchase on an EV. Having sufficient charge and infrastructure in Tasmania, making EVs more affordable, the stamp duty exemption, and having more EV models on the market," Mr Vikstrom said.
"In the last few years we have seen the base model electric vehicle increase in range, and lower in price. So we went from everybody needing a Tesla, which is a $120,000 car, down to having $40,000 new models on the market," he said.
Mr Vikstrom said Tasmania's investment in charging infrastructure takes away any location anxiety drivers may feel when planning to drive across state.
He said just like travel with petrol cars, EV drivers needed to plan about where to charge their cars.
"The ChargeSmart program has rolled out charging infrastructure all around the state. I can travel from Geevston, to Strahan, to St Helens, all using the EV infrastructure that is in place. It makes trips around our state much more available for everybody."