Government to offer fleets cash to switch to EVs

The Australian Government has funnelled almost $128 million into helping companies adopt zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) into their fleets.

In recent days on its behalf, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) launched the next stage of the Future Fuels Program, with a $127.9m pot of cash dedicated to facilitating the switch over the next four years – part of the $178m announced by the Government late last year for such programs and bringing the total possible spend to $250m.

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Funding will be available for light vehicle fleet operators to help with charging and electrical infrastructure, while their heavy vehicle counterparts are eligible for money towards enabling infrastructure and some support for the cost of the transport themselves.

Also in the pipeline are projects focused on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and associated infrastructure.

The latest development comes off the back of the first round of funding of $24.55m, which was awarded to five energy firms in November last year to create 403 electric vehicle fast charging stations across Australia.

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ARENA CEO Darren Miller said that this expanded program would build on the early successes of the Future Fuels Fund and drive the shift to ZEVs.

“Assisting fleet users to move to zero emissions vehicles means getting more zero emission cars and trucks on the road sooner, driving the road transport sector toward a net zero future,” Miller said.

“[In doing so] we’ll reduce emissions in the short term and help to create a market for second hand vehicles in the future, giving more consumers the option of switching to a ZEV with their next vehicle purchase.”

In October 2021, ARENA also announced funding for Transgrid to develop a state of the art electric bus depot in Leichhardt, New South Wales, providing a blueprint for how fleet operators can incorporate charging infrastructure in Australia.