Australian motorists in one state are being offered a whopping $6,000 to buy an electric car in a bid to entice more drivers to switch from petrol cars.
Drivers in Queensland will receive the rebate if they purchase an electric car valued at less than $68,000 on or after April 21, 2023.
To qualify, consumers must have a taxable income of $180,000 or less per year.
Queensland residents are also eligible for the huge payout if they bought an electric car worth less than $58,000 between March 16, 2022 and April 20, 2023.
The incentive is part of the Queensland Zero Emissions Rebate Scheme, which came into effect in July 2023.
The state government has allocated $45 million to fund the program for a ten-year period until 2032.
The initiative was set up to make electric vehicles more affordable for private individuals and businesses.
Motorists are also eligible for a separate $3,000 rebate if the electric car is worth up to $58,000 or $68,000.
Drivers in Queensland will receive the cash boost if they purchase an electric car worth less than $68,000 on or after April 21, 2023 (stock image)
Businesses in the Sunshine State are not eligible for the $6,000 payment, but they can apply for the $3,000 rebate.
You will only receive the payment if the vehicle was purchased after March 16, 2022, and if the company previously received a $3,000 rebate as part of the scheme.
Buying an electric car in Australia remains expensive as people continue to grapple with the cost of living crisis due to inflation and the subsequent rise in interest rates.
The average price of an electric car in Australia is around $50,000.
Data obtained by drive.com.au it turned out that the average price for the first half of 2023 was around $86,000.
The average price of gasoline and diesel cars, pickup trucks and SUVs during the same period was $54,600.
The cheapest electric car in Australia is the GWM Ora Hatchback, priced at $35,990.
The second cheapest model is the BYD Dolphin Hatchback, which starts at $36,890 (excluding on-road costs).
The incentive is part of the Queensland Zero Emissions Rebate Scheme, which came into effect in July 2023 (stock image)
Australia has become an important market for electric vehicle manufacturers, who are competing to deliver affordable electric vehicles.
American carmaker Tesla is facing strong competition from Chinese company BYD, which set a record in May with sales of 1,914 vehicles in Australia.
This figure is comparable to the 3,567 cars Tesla sold in the same period.
Sales of electric vehicles remain stable across the country. According to figures from the Federal Chamber of the Automotive Industry, 10,464 electric vehicles with a powerful battery were sold in March.
The number of EVs sold hit a monthly record, with 11,042 cars sold in June 2023.