The ACT government has announced a new milestone in its nation-leading uptake of electric vehicles, noting it has passed more than 5,000 registrations of zero emissions vehicles in the capital territory.
The ACT currently leads the country in the uptake by some distance, with EVs accounting for more than 20 per cent of all new car sales in recent months. That compares to an average of eight per cent of new car sales for the country in 2023.
The government has marked the latest milestone with the launch of a new online tool that provides cost comparison for EVs, which it says will make it easier to better understand the running costs of ZEVs.
“The ACT has the highest number of ZEVs per capita in Australia and has now reached a milestone of more than 5,000 registered in the ACT,” minister Shane Rattenbury said in a statement.
“The number has doubled since this time last year and now one in five newly registered vehicles is a ZEV.
“This demonstrates not only that Canberrans care for our environment and want to do their part to reduce emissions, but also that they have discovered the many benefits that come from owning a ZEV.”
Rattenbury, who drives an MG ZS EV, says the new new free cost comparison tool takes only about 5 minutes to use and allows customers to see at a glance the total cost of ownership of any car model available in Australia over a five-year period.
“While ZEV’s are still typically priced at a premium compared to petrol or diesel alternatives, the reduced operational costs and greater resale value of ZEV’s means that they can cost you less in the long run,” he said.
He pointed to lower maintenance costs, and the ability to save on refuelling costs if EV owners are able to charge with energy from their home solar panels.
“New electric vehicle models can go much further than people think, with the average electric vehicle driving range of new models now between 300 – 600km. The average Canberran travels only 40kms per day, so this is more than adequate to meet the needs of many ACT drivers,” said Rattenbury
The price comparison tool can be found here: https://energy.act.gov.au/owning-a-zero-emissions-vehicle/
Keyword: ACT reaches electric vehicle milestone and launches EV cost comparison tool