Ambitious 100% Electric Vehicle Target

12 November, 2020

Peter Gutwein MP

Premier and Minister for Climate Change

2020-21 Budget: Ambitious 100% Electric Vehicle Target

The Tasmanian Liberal Government will set an ambitious target to transition our Government vehicle fleet to 100% electric vehicles by 2030.

Capitalising on our renewable energy advantage this will be one of the most ambitious targets of any state in Australia, demonstrating our leadership in innovation, renewable energy and climate action.

As part of this commitment, the Ministerial fleet will also transition to include four hybrid vehicles over the next two years, and we will receive the first of these by the end of the year.

We have already made significant progress to support the uptake of electric vehicles, including delivering a statewide charging network of 14 fast chargers and 23 workplace and destination chargers, and increasing the number of electric vehicles in the Tasmanian Government vehicle fleet.

As the availability and range of electric vehicles continues to increase, we will increase our purchases to reach our target. The 2020-21 Budget allocates $2.3 million over three years to continue our sensible and measured transition.

Based on currently available models and technologies, our 10-year transition will save around $2 million in maintenance, around $6 million in fuel costs and will reduce emissions by around 13,000 metric tonnes.

Supporting early uptake in electric vehicles will also create a second-hand electric vehicle market for the community, reduce our dependence on imported liquid fuels, and increase demand for our home-grown renewable energy.

Metro Tasmania will also be tasked to trial zero emissions buses in Tasmania – electric or hydrogen – with both a northern and southern trial underway within the next two years, with any additional resources required allocated in next year’s Budget.

Importantly, our electric vehicle target will include battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen vehicles, aligning with our commitment to double our renewable energy generation by 2040 and fast-track a hydrogen industry in Tasmania by 2030.

Our target will be underpinned by a 100% electric vehicle and zero emissions strategy, including interim measures to further reduce emissions in the Government fleet.

As we rebuild a stronger Tasmania together, it’s important we continue to innovate, invest in new technologies and continue transitioning to a low emissions economy.