EV drivers dodge soaring petrol prices this Easter long weekend
NALSPA
Australia’s peak body for novated leasing said drivers who bought an EV with the help of the Electric Car Discount are set to hit the road this Easter long weekend at a fraction of the cost of petrol or diesel vehicles.
Recent analysis by Positive Economics Advisory shows that based on petrol prices being $2.40 a litre, workers could save $289 a month - around $3,500 a year - by switching to an EV on a novated lease.
More than 100,000 Australians are driving EVs thanks to the support of the EV Discount, many of them in the outer suburbs of our biggest cities.
The National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) said retaining the Electric Car Discount will also give the private sector the certainty they need to further invest in charging infrastructure to make future long weekends even smoother.
“EV drivers are hitting the road these Easter holidays without being hit by rising fuel costs and supply shortages,” NALSPA CEO Rohan Martin said.
“With fuel prices sky-high, EV drivers are insulated from the pressures facing petrol and diesel motorists this long weekend - one less expense to worry about during the cost-of-living crisis.
“The Electric Car Discount has been instrumental in getting thousands of Australians to make the switch to cleaner, cheaper-to-run cars.
“Upfront cost remains a major barrier to electric vehicle uptake, and the Discount is the key policy making EVs significantly more affordable, enabling Australian motorists to get into an EV much sooner than they otherwise would. Many everyday Australians wouldn’t have considered an EV without the support of the Discount.
“But price isn’t the only hurdle - range anxiety and charging infrastructure remain concerns, particularly during peak travel periods like Easter.
“Private investment in fast chargers along highways and in regional towns depends on confidence that EV demand will keep growing beyond the current fuel price spike - therefore it’s critical that the Electric Car Discount remains in place after the current crisis so that we have investment certainty.
“We know the Electric Car Discount is driving EV demand and uptake, and without it, the rollout of and investment in the charging infrastructure needed for longer road trips and regional travel across Australia will likely come to a crawl."
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