Latest updates
Round 5 is now open and initial bids close on Friday 17 January, 5 pm AEDT.
There is $5 million in funding available for this round.
Your business can now apply for a share of $5 million in our latest round of competitive bid funding to fast-track the purchasing of electric vehicles and smart chargers.
Round 5 opened Tuesday 12 November 2024, 10 am AEDT and initial bids close on Friday 17 January 2024, 5 pm AEDT.
With this new round, the NSW Government is offering acceleration funding to boost your business plans to take on a larger electric vehicle fleet.
Acceleration funding is available for successful NSW businesses that procure eligible AC or DC smart chargers between 12 November 2024 and 10 June 2025, as outlined below. This means for a temporary time the funding has been increased per vehicle smart charger port.
Competitive bid funding supports organisations to electrify their fleets
The competitive bid funding option of the electric fleets incentive is designed to support organisations with larger fleets that are beyond the pilot phase of their transition to EVs.
The competitive bid funding option is split into two streams:
The individual stream
For businesses that own or lease vehicles to support its operations in NSW including also vehicle rental/subscription services.
The aggregator stream
For businesses providing vehicles to customers in NSW through leasing arrangements and will pass the incentive onto customers.
About the funding
Businesses like yours submit a bid for a share of $5 million in funding available for this round as an incentive to partly cover the total cost of ownership (TCO) gap between the battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and equivalent internal combustion electric vehicles (ICEVs). Your applications are ranked against other bidders based on the funding requested per tonne of CO2-equivalent of emissions abated ($/tCO2e).
If your bid is successful and you procure and install your charging infrastructure by 10 June 2025, you will be entitled to receive an increased charging subsidy, as outlined in the table below. Otherwise, the standard conditions and charging subsidy will apply.
Read more information about eligibility criteria in the Fleets acceleration funding addendum.
| Category | Incentive per AC smart charger port | Incentive per DC smart charger port |
Passenger / SUV / Vans below 2.5t GVM (RRP≤$40,000) | $4,000 | n/a |
Passenger / SUV / Vans below 2.5t GVM (RRP>$40,000) | $4,000 | n/a |
Light commercial (e.g. Vans and Utes) 2.5 to 4.5 tonnes GVM | $4,000 | $8,000 |
Trucks up to 4.5 tonnes GVM | $4,000 | $8,000 |
How to apply for the incentive
Are you ready to take your EV transition to the next level and are you looking for funding to procure larger volumes?
The competitive bid funding is open to any organisation that:
- operates a fleet of 21 or more vehicles (ICEVs or BEVs), and
- is applying for funding for 11 or more brand new BEVs.
Our guidelines and other resources have everything you need to know to complete eligibility criteria, understand compliance requirements and application process for the competitive bid incentive.
Once you have read the guidelines and supporting documents, sign up to access the online bidding platform and participate in the reverse auction. A summary of the bidding process is detailed below.
Successful applicants
All successful applicants that receive funding under the EV fleets incentive will be disclosed on the NSW Government Grants Finder website within 45 days of the funding agreement being entered into. More information in details below.
Important dates for the competitive bid funding
| Stages | Time period/Dates |
| Registrations/initial bidding window | Tuesday 12 November 2024, 10 am AEDT to Friday 17 January 2025, 5 pm AEDT |
| Notification of initial bid ranking | Wednesday 22 January 2025, 10 am AEDT |
| Final bidding window | Wednesday 22 January 2025, 10 am AEDT to Friday 31 January 2025, 5 pm AEDT |
| Assessments/request for clarifications/ sample audits | Friday 31 January 2025 to Tuesday 18 March 2025 |
| Notification of final results | Tuesday 18 March 2025 |
Bidding process
Select the type and number of BEVs you’re looking to procure.
The bidding platform will calculate the difference in the total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to vehicles that would have otherwise been purchased or leased, as well as the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions saved.
Once these amounts are calculated you’ll be able to request funding per vehicle, and the $/tonne CO2e (which is how you will be ranked against other bidders). This will be automatically calculated in the bidding platform. You can also indicate if you would like to receive an incentive for a smart charger and request the desired quantity. Once finalised, this information will be used for your initial bid.
You’ll need to register to the online bidding platform to place your initial bid. You’ll also need to confirm that your organisation meets the eligibility criteria and can procure your nominated vehicles and smart chargers in the required timeframe. You won’t be required to provide upfront evidence to support the information in your bid (e.g., estimated annual mileage). We advise you to keep this information on record as the department will run sample checks on participants.
At the beginning of the final bidding stage, bidders will be provided with their current ranking compared to the most competitive bidder in the stream. You can either confirm or update your bid. You’ll only have just over a week to make your final bid. Refer to the key bidding dates outlined above.
We’ll contact bidders to let them know whether they have been successful.
If successful, a funding deed will be supplied and must be signed by an authorised representative of your business and the department before your business is entitled to receive the incentive.
BEVs will need to be purchased and registered within 180 business days and evidence provided as noted in the guidelines before funding is provided.
Chargers procured and installed by 10 June 2025 are eligible for acceleration funding, otherwise they can be procured within 180 business days and receive the standard incentive outlined in the guidelines.
Stay updated
Watch the following information sessions to learn how to participate in this program.
Information about EVs
Whether you’ve already started your EV transition journey, or you are still planning, there is a suite of NSW Government resources available. These will help you figure out costs, driving range, charging and more.
Electric Vehicle tools and resources
Which electric vehicle should I buy?
List of available EVs in Australia
Find out where to charge your electric vehicle
Register your interest
If you wish to receive updates on BEVs and other NSW Government initiatives, fill in your details below: