The Productivity Commission’s interim report on Australia’s net zero transformation has prompted strong responses from automotive industry bodies, who warn that phasing out electric vehicle (EV) purchase incentives could stall the country’s progress on transport decarbonisation.
The Australian Taxation Office has issued new guidance for workers to claim home electricity charging costs for their plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), a move that the nation’s novated leasing body has described as common sense and overdue.Workers who own a battery electric vehicle have been able to use a shortcut method to determine home charging costs, however until now there has been no guidance for workers who drive a PHEV and charge at home.The ATO’s new draft compliance guideline introduces a formula to calculate home charging costs for PHEVs, which includes applying a flat rate of 4.2 cents per kilometre for deemed travel on electricity — an extension of the shortcut method available to workers with battery electric vehicles.“This is a common sense, practical move by the ATO that reflects how most Australians charge their electric vehicles - at home,” National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging (NALSPA) chief executive Rohan Martin said.“PHEVs have been growing in popularity, yet workers have lacked a simple shortcut to calculate and claim their home electricity charging costs.
The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) says the Opposition’s U-turn on the electric car discount that’s making EVs affordable is a major blow to Australian buyers.
New figures show plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales continue to rise rapidly in Australia just as a major discount for the car type nears its end.Data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveals that 4,871 PHEVs were sold in February 2025 – a monthly record for the Australian market.This represents a 346.1% increase compared to February 2024, contributing to a 222.2% overall rise in PHEV sales for 2025.It comes as the FBT exemption for PHEVs is due to end on April 1, 2025.National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) chief executive Rohan Martin says the large uptake in PHEVs demonstrates their widespread appeal and highlights their crucial role as a stepping stone toward fully electric vehicles.“The uptake of plug-in hybrid vehicles is currently exponential,” Martin says."This reveals two key insights: firstly, Australians who prefer SUVs and larger vehicles are eagerly embracing lower-emission alternatives, which are predominantly available today as PHEVs.
A new report by NRMA Insurance highlights driving range anxiety and recharging as barriers to electric vehicle adoption, emphasizing the need for ongoing government support for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), according to the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA).