Starting Monday, owners of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids will need to pay road-user charges (RUC), similar to those already in place for diesel cars and heavy vehicles. The new rules require EV owners to pay $76 for every 1000km driven, the same rate as diesel vehicles. Plug-in hybrid owners will pay $38, a decrease from the initially proposed $42.
This change ends the exemption from the scheme that has been in place since 2009. Despite the new charges, the transport agency is providing a two-month grace period to help new users understand the system.
Kirsten Corson, chair of Drive Electric Vehicles, believes that most EV drivers will take advantage of this grace period. She also noted that while EV drivers are not opposed to the charges, the new scheme results in EVs being taxed 23% more than petrol cars, even though they produce zero emissions.
The Automobile Association (AA) encourages drivers to start paying these charges as soon as possible, despite the grace period. Simon Douglas, AA’s chief policy and advocacy officer, said that the growing number of EVs and plug-in hybrids should contribute to road upkeep. He assured that the RUC system, which is well established, should be able to handle the additional users.
