![\"Victoria](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/electric-car-tax-victoria.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Dozens of companies and organisations have put their names to an open letter to Victorian Parliament encouraging a vote against an electric vehicle tax in the state.<\/p>\n
In November last year, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas announced plans<\/a> to introduce a 2.5 cent\/km charge applying to electric and other zero-emission vehicles, along with a 2.0 cent\/km charge for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles. A fuel-efficient petrol or diesel car owner only pays around 2.1 cents per kilometre in fuel excise tax.<\/p>\n Under the “ZLEV Road-User Charge” and based on the average distance travelled annually for light passenger vehicles in Victoria, EV owners could forking out $330 a year and plug-in hybrid owners around $260 a year.<\/p>\n Subsequent polling found while many Victorians would like to buy an electric car, taxes on EVs could have an impact on uptake; with 72.1% believing taxes will mean fewer people buy them<\/a>.<\/p>\n Among the signatories to the open letter are Hyundai, Volkswagen, Uber, the Electric Vehicle Council, Solar Citizens, Environment Victoria and the Australia Institute.<\/p>\n Part of the letter states:<\/p>\n “Most industrialised countries are prioritising incentives for electric vehicles to benefit from cleaner air and new jobs from a growing industry. This new tax means the world\u2019s manufacturers are far less likely to send Victorians their best, most affordable, zero emissions vehicles.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It points out every other state and territory in Australia has ruled out or delayed plans for a new tax on electric vehicles.<\/p>\n An example is South Australia, which was the first to formally announce plans to introduce an EV tax<\/a>. The reaction to SA’s plan was such that in March this year, the Marshall Government said it would delay its introduction by a year to allow time to see what happens across the border. It’s probably no coincidence this will likely be after SA’s next state election, and something EV-supporting SA voters may want to keep in mind.<\/p>\n The Australia Institute’s Richie Merzian said penalising EV owners because they don’t pollute the atmosphere is absurd.<\/p>\n Australia has the lowest rate of electric car ownership among developed countries, and if Victoria goes ahead with this it will be the only stand-alone electric vehicle tax in the world.<\/p>\n The Institute says there are a number of things that can be done to change Australia’s standing and an EV road user charge certainly isn’t among them.<\/p>\n “Our research shows that there are a range of policies that support the uptake of EVs which are very popular the public,” said<\/a> Mr. Merzian. “These include offering loans for electric vehicle purchases, building more charging stations and removing the Luxury Car Tax on zero emissions cars.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Solar Citizens’ Ellen Roberts says while the Victorian Government is helping households install solar panels through the hugely popular Victorian solar rebate<\/a>, it should be leading the charge and making it easier for Victorians to invest in cleaner transport.<\/p>\n It’s proposed Victoria’s ZLEV Road-User Charge<\/a> will come into effect on July 1 this year.<\/p>\n The full open letter (really more an ad) has been published in The Age and can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n“Ill-Conceived Anomaly of A Tax”<\/h2>\n