More incentives offered to increase electric vehicle use on our roads

Environment and Climate Change Minister Roger Jaensch, and Energy and Renewables Minister Nick Duigan visited Latrobe business Genr8 Electrical - who sell electric vehicle accessories - on January 14 to announce the extension to the scheme.

Genr8 director Nathan Bourke expected plenty of interest from potential buyers, with a residential charging station costing between $2000 and $3000.

"We currently do get a large number of enquiries of people that have bought an EV and would like to use the scheme and we've had to explain to them that we can get them solar but the EV charging infrastructure itself doesn't qualify at this stage," he said.

"Obviously, now it does, I think that will be well accepted."

Mr Jaensch said this was just another way to help keep the state's emissions at net negative by 2030 and beyond.

"Twenty one per cent of Tasmania's emissions come from transport and the vast majority of that from the private car," he said.

"The fewer fossil fuel burning cars and the fewer trips made in those cars the better.

"Every fossil fuel burning car is putting emissions into the atmosphere and every emission counts.

"With our separate Electric Vehicle Rebate program already offering $2000 to individuals on the purchase of eligible battery electric vehicles, now we have both the car and the charger covered."

Mr Duigan said the electric vehicle infrastructure loans were available for private and business users.

"We know that one of the barriers to buying an EV is that upfront cost, not only in terms of the vehicle, but also the infrastructure that you want to have in your house to enable you to to quickly charge it so you can use it as you would like to do so," he said.

"This is an interest-free loan available over a three-year period, there are no fees, no cost, no upfronts.

"It is a free loan and to be paid back up to $10,000."

Mr Duigan said more than 3000 families and businesses have already taken advantage of interest-free loans through the scheme for energy efficient upgrades like solar panels and batteries, heating and cooling systems, and energy efficient appliances.

"By expanding eligibility to EV charging infrastructure, we're now taking the Energy Saver Loan Scheme out of the home and onto the roads, meaning we're making an even bigger impact," he said.

The government is also offering rebates for the purchase of eligible electric vehicles and e-mobility devices.

For more information, visit: www.recfit.tas.gov.au/e-transport