The information on this webpage supports the EV fleets incentive guidelines. The relevant funding option guidelines and webpage should be read before completing the application process.
Key resources:
Competitive bid funding guidelines (PDF, 1.11 MB)
Eligibility
Yes, it is possible to apply for the kick-start funding option and the competitive bid option simultaneously. However, applicants cannot request an incentive for the same vehicle (i.e., same plate number or VIN) or charger under both funding options and a vehicle can only be incentivised once. Please note that there is a maximum limit of 15 vehicles for the Kickstart funding option.
This is different from the competitive bid option where the minimum number of vehicles requested for incentives is 11. There is no maximum number of vehicles, but the total incentive requested cannot exceed $4.5 million.
Yes, if you have previously received funding for fewer than 15 vehicles, you can apply for the kick-start funding option for the remaining vehicles up to the maximum of 15. For example, if you have received competitive bid funding for 10 vehicles, you will still be able to apply for a further 5 vehicles via kick-start funding.
If the eligibility requirements are met, you can apply for either funding option.
No. Each application for the kick-start funding option must be completed (vehicles registered, smart chargers purchased and incentive payment received) before another application can be started.
Kick-start funding:
In order to access kick-start funding, you must have an active ABN and
- a fleet of at least 3 vehicles registered in NSW, or
- be a licensed taxi driver with at least one taxi in NSW, or
- be a truck operator, with at least one truck registered in NSW.
Your existing fleet must not include any EVs you are applying to receive the incentive for. Your fleet must have been in operation for at least 6 months prior to your application, and the Department expects your organisation will continue operating a fleet of at least 3 vehicles for at least three to four years after your application. Audits may be conducted to confirm compliance.
Competitive bid funding:
An organisation that operates a fleet of 21 or more vehicles in NSW can bid for the individual fleet stream. If your organisation is an aggregator, you can bid for the aggregator stream. Please refer to the Program Guidelines (PDF, 1.11 MB) for more details.
You are eligible for kick-start funding if you have a fleet of at least 3 vehicles used for rideshare/booking service provider purposes or own at least one registered taxi. You are not eligible if you operate only one vehicle. However, you can benefit from the EV fleets incentive competitive bid option by obtaining a BEV from an aggregator that does participate in the program.
Kick-start funding:
You can apply multiple times for up to a total of 15 vehicles and charging ports across all applications. One application must be completed (vehicles registered, chargers purchased and payment received) before another application can be started and submitted. Please note that the number of DC chargers an applicant can procure is capped. For more information, please review the program guidelines.
Competitive bid funding:
You can apply across multiple rounds. There is no limit on how many vehicles you can apply for, but you cannot apply for less than 11 vehicles per round. An applicant cannot apply for both the individual stream and the aggregator stream using the same email address (username), separate emails must be used to apply across the streams.
FCEVs and PHEVs are not eligible for funding through the EV fleets incentive.
Occasional trips in other states are acceptable if the incentivised vehicles are registered and used predominantly in NSW.
The incentivised vehicle can be used to exclusively support operations or to support a combination of operational and personal use. However, only vehicles that are registered against an organisation with verified ABN can be incentivised.
These businesses can apply through either the kick-start funding option (up to 15 EVs) or the individual stream of the competitive bid option (11 or more vehicles) if they meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
Applicants are not eligible to receive kick-start funding for vehicles procured through a subscription. Only vehicles procured through outright purchase or lease are eligible for kick-start funding. Applicants looking to procure vehicles through a subscription should do so through a subscription provider.
Subscription providers can participate in either the kick-start funding option (up to 15 vehicles) or the individual stream of the competitive bid option (11 or more vehicles) to receive funding for subscription vehicles provided to customers.
No. Neither incentivised EVs or existing fleet vehicles can be privately registered (General Private usage, as noted on the registration certificate). Vehicles should be registered for business general use. Other types of vehicle registration types will be considered on application.
Vehicles under a financial or operating lease agreement of at least three years can be accounted towards the minimum fleet requirements for kick-start funding.
No. Vehicles you don’t own but have procured through a subscription or rental agreement are not counted towards your existing fleet size.
You may submit a Transport for NSW registration notice to demonstrate fleet size. If the registration has expired, we will use other resources to verify if your vehicle is currently registered and will request more evidence if we cannot satisfy current registration.
Available funding
The Department publishes the available funding allocation on the relevant kick-start funding or competitive bid web page at the time of launch.
What can be funded and what cannot be funded?
Kick-start funding option:
You can purchase any model and variant within the vehicle categories that your funding has been approved for (noting that passenger vehicles and SUVs can’t exceed the price cap without an exemption being granted).
Competitive bid funding option:
You can purchase any model and variant within the vehicle categories via the online bidding platform that your funding has been approved for (noting that passenger vehicles and SUVs can’t exceed the price cap without an exemption being granted).
The Department deems HEVs and PHEVs as consolidated technologies not requiring further support. Also, in order to achieve the net zero emission target by 2050, NSW Government prioritises technologies like BEV that do not produce tailpipe emissions.
Yes, you can replace hybrids, plug-ins and internal combustion vehicles with BEVs.
Kick-start funding:
The incentive is designed to cover some of the installation costs associated with procuring charging infrastructure. Applicants of kick-start funding should refer to the charging incentives available for a full breakdown of the incentives being offered and the supported costs.
Competitive Bid funding:
Successful participants will also be able to opt-in to receive a capped amount, limited to actual eligible expenditure, per incentivised vehicle to install BEV smart charging ports at organisation premises or employees’ homes. Refer to the Program Guidelines for details
Each smart charging port allocated in a given CaaS arrangement must be matched to an incentivised BEV to claim the charger incentive amount.
Yes, they should be aligned to the Department’s approved charger specifications outlined in the guidelines for the relevant funding option.
No. Only brand new EVs registered in NSW for the first time are eligible. Dealer demonstration vehicles are often priced at a discount, and therefore, an additional incentive is not deemed necessary.
Receiving payment
Payments will be made only for vehicles that have been registered in NSW, and all required evidence must be submitted for assessment by the Program team.
If a grantee does not purchase and register vehicles they have been approved for, payment for those vehicles will be withheld, and the funds will be reallocated to future funding rounds.
Kick-start funding option:
No, all vehicle and charger evidence must be supplied simultaneously. We cannot process batch payments.
Competitive bid funding option:
Yes, batch payments can be processed as long as they are approved by the Department.
Participants that are no longer interested or able to use the funding are required to notify the Department in writing as soon as possible, so funding can be reallocated to future rounds.
Participants cannot claim an incentive for vehicles or charging infrastructure purchased before the launch date of the relevant round. Vehicles and chargers purchased after the round launch date may be eligible for funding if they satisfy the terms in the funding deed and evidence requirements. They must also be reviewed and approved by the Department prior to any incentive payments being made.
Kick-start funding option:
You must submit the proof of EV registration and the proof of purchase of the smart chargers within 100 business days from the receipt of the Funding Deed. Failure to do so may result in forfeiting the incentive funding.
Fleet managers that cannot secure vehicle(s) within the set timeframes due to supply chain issues will need to notify the Department. Extensions to the 100-business days delivery term to provide vehicle registration evidence may be granted at the Department’s discretion, only if the delay of registration is due to supply chain issues and/or supply delays beyond the control of the applicant, and adequate evidence is provided.
Competitive bid funding option:
You must submit the proof of EV registration and the proof of purchase of the smart chargers within 150 business days from the receipt of the Funding Deed. Failure to do so may result in forfeiting the incentive funding.
Fleet managers that cannot secure vehicle(s) within the set timeframes due to supply chain issues will need to notify the Department. Extensions to the 150 business days delivery term to provide vehicle registration evidence may be granted at the Department’s discretion, only if the delay of registration is due to supply chain issues and/or supply delays beyond the control of the applicant, and adequate evidence is provided.
Applicants will need to submit a written request for extension, with details and evidence about the purchase order date, typical delivery times and expected delays supported in writing by the OEM or vehicle supplier. An extension will not be considered for vehicles that do not have a purchase order in place or for vehicles that were not available on the market at the time of the application submission.
Delays in the provision of the charging infrastructure evidence will only be considered if the project involves heavy or commercial vehicles. Acceptable evidence for consideration of an extension includes agreed delivery plans and expected delays supported in writing by the installers.
No, the incentive can only be used for the procurement of new vehicles. It cannot be used for procurements from the secondary market.
Yes. You can procure BEVs via your usual procurement channels.
After receiving payment
Yes. You are free to sell the vehicles when you choose. Please note the requirement to provide information on plans to resell the vehicles as part of the annual reporting. Additionally, you must keep sale records for a minimum of 7 years.
Yes. You are free to sell the smart chargers when you choose. You must keep sale records for a minimum of 7 years as per clause 18.2 of the funding deed.
You are not required to return the incentive payment for written-off vehicles to the NSW Government. In addition, the comprehensive motor vehicle insurance required for each vehicle that receives funding will minimise or remove any financial loss you occur as a result of the write-offs.
Privacy and confidentiality
We have legal obligations under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) in relation to the collection, storage, access, use and disclosure of personal information.
If collecting your personal information, we will provide you with a privacy statement at the time of collection that details how this information will be managed in accordance with privacy law.
We may publish aggregate information of round results on the NSW Government website as well as use de-identified bid data in training materials, case studies, evaluations and other portfolio purposes.
Information of a confidential nature provided as part of or in connection with any bid, will be treated as commercial-in-confidence information and only disclosed with the consent of the participating organisation. However, commercial-in-confidence information provided by fleet managers may be disclosed:
- to the Minister/the Minister's Office
- to department staff
- to relevant parties for auditing purposes
- where authorised or required by law to be disclosed.
Please contact [email protected] if you have further questions about the incentive.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest information about BEV incentives at our EV fleets page.
Getting help
Online information sessions are no longer held at the opening of each round. If you would like to discuss the incentive program or application process please contact the program team at [email protected]
Sign up to our e-newsletter on our EV fleets page and be one of the first to know about future sessions.
Feedback can be provided if an application was not successful because it did not meet the eligibility criteria and/or was not supported by sufficient documentation.
Please contact [email protected] if you have further questions about the incentive.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest information about EV incentives at our EV fleets page.
Please contact [email protected] if you have further questions about the incentive.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter to receive the latest information about EV incentives at our EV fleets page.