Tasmania is a leader in climate action as we continue to transition towards a low-emissions economy, which includes transitioning to electric vehicles and developing state-wide charging and network infrastructure.
That’s why today I was very pleased to visit Tesla’s V3 Supercharger in Devonport near the Spirit of Tasmania terminal.
The Australian first Tesla V3 Supercharger is capable of delivering more than twice the power of the previous version, with peak charge rates up to 250kW.
Importantly for Tasmania, this opens up an opportunity for a new type of traveller to our island, bringing their electric vehicle on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry and experiencing everything our State has to offer by car.
This private investment complements Tasmanian Government actions, including supporting a state-wide network of 12 fast chargers as part of our Electric Vehicle ChargeSmart Grants Program.
We’ve recently turbo-charged this program, with a further $600,000 in grants towards fast- and destination-charging stations in regional and tourism destinations, to get even more Tasmanians and visitors driving in our regions.
And to assist Tasmanians to buy an EV, we’ve committed to waive stamp duty for EVs purchased in Tasmania for the next two years. For a new mid-range EV, this will reduce initial purchase costs by around $2,000, providing a significant boost to encourage those interested to switch to an EV and support this growing market in Tasmania.
On top of this, we are supporting the tourism industry’s goal to become a carbon neutral destination by waiving registration for electric vehicles purchased by car rental companies and coach operators for two years as well, and have set an ambitious target to transition the Government vehicle fleet to 100 per cent electric vehicles by 2030.
All of these initiatives are designed to capitalise on Tasmania’s renewable energy advantage, support innovation and take climate action, as we secure Tasmania’s future.