
South Australia has become the third state to announce the scrapping of its electric vehicle rebates, leaving any prospective EV buyers less than a week to take advantage of the $3000 refund by the time festive public holidays are factored in.
In an update posted to the state’s treasury website this week, the SA state government said the “subsidy for eligible new battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will end from 1 January 2024”, but it stipulated that those with binding purchase contracts will still be eligible for the partial refund.
“Individuals and businesses that have entered into a binding contract for the purchase of an eligible electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle prior to 1 January 2024, and are awaiting delivery of the vehicle, will still be eligible to receive the subsidy regardless of whether the vehicle has been registered by that date,” the government said.

“This will ensure that those who have ordered an eligible vehicle on the expectation of receiving the relief will not be disadvantaged.”
But while the $3000 rebates are being axed, the three years of free registration will remain in place and available to all South Australians who purchase and register an eligible EV priced up to $68,750 plus ORCs before June 30, 2025.
Victoria and New South Wales were the first two states to announce the axing of their respective EV and FCEV incentives, with both expiry dates being well ahead of the original schedule.

In a bid to avoid the drama and legalities that have unfolded in Victoria over the past year or so, South Australia axed plans for an EV and FCEV road user charge in February citing “overwhelming” community feedback.
“South Australians want to see their state government incentivising the take-up of electric vehicles, not slugging users with extra costs,” transport minister Tom Koutsantonis said back in February.
“The feedback we received from the community was overwhelming, the Liberals’ decision to introduce this tax would have reduced community uptake.”