Queensland's Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy

E-Mobility Rebate Scheme

We are making e-mobility devices more affordable by reducing upfront costs for Queenslanders.

The Queensland Government has committed $1 million to the E-Mobility Rebate Scheme to provide Queensland residents with rebates to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing a new eligible e-bicycle or e-scooter. The scheme seeks to reduce transport emissions and promote the safer usage of e-mobility devices by encouraging the uptake of high-quality e-bicycles and e-scooters for active transport.

It is expected that the scheme will be popular and funding will be exhausted quickly. Rebate funding is not guaranteed. Completed applications will be assessed in order of receipt.

Eligible Queenslanders can access rebates of up to:

• $500 per eligible e-bicycle (including cargo e-bicycles); or
• $200 per eligible e-scooter.

If used safely and in compliance with the rules e-scooters and e-bicycles offer significant environmental and social advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, easing traffic congestion, promoting health, and improving the accessibility of transportation.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a rebate under the scheme, you must:

• purchase your eligible e-bicycle or e-scooter in full (including through buy now, pay later services) on or after 23 September 2024
• purchase your eligible e-bicycle or e-scooter either in person at a retail store or online from an eligible business (a retail business located in Queensland or an Australian online business—sole-trader, partnership, private or public company, trust or incorporated not for profit organisation—operating under an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be a person aged 18 years or over
• be a Queensland resident. This may be evidenced by a valid Queensland driver’s licence, or another form of evidence to prove residency in Queensland.

Eligible devices

To be eligible, an e-scooter must:

• be designed for use by 1 person
• have 1 wheel at the front and 1 or 2 wheels at the back; or 1 or 2 wheels at the front and 1 wheel at the back
• be propelled by an electric motor that is not capable of operating when the device is going faster than 25km/h
• be steered by handlebars
• have a footboard supported by the wheels
• be no more than:
  • 1,250mm in length
  • 700mm in width
  • 1,350mm in height
  • 60kg in mass, when not carrying a person or other load.

To be eligible, an e-bicycle must:

• be a power-assisted bicycle, that is:
  • fitted with one or more electric auxiliary motor/s with a maximum power output, or combined maximum power output of not more than 200 watts, and
  • not capable of travelling faster than:
    • 6km/h when propelled only by the electric motor/s (no pedalling), or
    • 25km/h while the motor/s are providing assistance (speeds in excess of 25km/h are only permitted under pedal power only), and
    • not be fitted with an internal combustion engine; or
• be an electrically power-assisted cycle (EPAC) with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watt, of which the output is:
  • progressively reduced as the cycle's travel speed increases above 6km/h, and
  • cut off, when:
    • the cycle reaches a speed of 25km/h; or
    • the cyclist not pedalling and the travel speed exceeds 6km/h.

Evidence and documentation

Individual rebate applications must be submitted to QRIDA for each device being claimed and accompanied by:

• identification documents, such as driver licence, proof of age card, digital licence, passport
• evidence of current residential address (e.g. if this is not included on your identification documents, a utility or electricity bill, bank statement, electoral enrolment document, signed rent or lease agreement, contract of sale)
• evidence of purchase, such as tax invoice(s) or official receipt displaying the retailer's ABN, final payment and the date of purchase. Where evidence of payment does not state final payment and/or date of purchase, a payment record (such as credit or debit card statement) matching the evidence of purchase and clearly attributable to the eligible e-scooter or e-bicycle
• device information to support device eligibility (including evidence of a regulatory compliance mark, and evidence of a battery management system) i.e. product specifications, product brochure from the manufacturer
• any additional information or documents stated in the application form
• acknowledgement of the details on best-practice for safe use and charging of the device
• acknowledgement of the safety requirements and Queensland Road Rules for riding e-bicycles and e-scooters.

We encourage applicants to review the eligibility requirements prior to purchase and have all information and documents required before applying for your rebate to ensure a smooth process to secure your rebate.

The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Scheme has completed

The Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme provided a rebate to reduce the upfront costs of purchasing a new, full battery, light passenger, or light commercial Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV).

The scheme was an initiative within Queensland's Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy 2022-2032 and Action Plan 2022-2024.

The scheme opened on July 2022 and ran until 2 September 2024, when the $45 million in Queensland Government funding was exhausted.

Over 11,000 rebate applications were received and the final number of rebates provided will be published after all applications have been processed.

• The scheme initially provided $3,000 rebates to businesses and households earning up to $180,000 annually.
• On 1 July 2023:
  • the rebate increased to a total of $6,000 for eligible households, with a $3,000 top-up for those households who already received the initial $3,000 funding. Funding for businesses remained at $3,000
  • the eligibility threshold for purchase price (dutiable value) increased from $58,000 to $68,000 (including GST)

In the 2 years it ran, the scheme:

• boosted EV uptake in Queensland. EV car registration increased by over 5 times, from 9,100 to 46,000
• accelerated the transition to EVs. The Queensland car fleet comprised of 0.2% EV and increased to 1%
• supported the EV supply market. Car manufacturers nearly doubled the number of EV car models available to Queenslanders
• advanced progress towards achieving the ZEV Strategy target of 50% new passenger vehicles sales to be zero emission by 2030. In the year ending June 2024, zero emission vehicles (including light commercial vehicles and SUVs), made up 8.5% of new passenger vehicle sales in Queensland, up from 1.7% two years earlier.

There are currently no plans to extend the scheme or provide a new round of funding and late applications cannot be accepted. The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administered the Scheme and updated the Scheme webpage regularly to indicate the amount of funding remaining.

The Queensland Government continues to support electric vehicle (EV) drivers by ensuring low vehicle registration fees and duties and investing in public fast EV charging infrastructure.

• Discounted vehicle registration duty: $2 per $100 up to a value of $100,000 for battery EVs, compared to $4 per $100 for 4-cylinder vehicles.
• Discounted vehicle registration fees: $283.50 per year (excluding compulsory third-party insurance and traffic improvement fee) for battery EVs, compared to $360.60 per year for 4-cylinder vehicles.
• EV charging infrastructure support:
  • 53 public fast chargers by end of 2024 as part of the Queensland Electric Super Highway.
  • 46 public fast charging sites by end of 2025 as part of a $10 million investment in EV Charging Infrastructure Co-Fund Scheme.