In Brief:

• Canberrans are leading the way with zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) ownership, with more than 10,000 ZEVs on our roads.
• ZEVs can help you save money and are better for the environment.
• This story details the financial and environmental benefits of owning a ZEV.

You might have heard that zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) can save you money and are better for the environment.

But have you ever wondered just how much of an impact they actually have?

We’ve done the maths to reveal just how much of a difference they can make for Canberrans.

How much money can you save?

Households with electric vehicles could save up to $2,000 per year over the next 10 years.

That’s according to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s recent report on Residential electricity price trends  2024.

Electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol, diesel and hybrid alternatives. This is because electricity costs less than petrol or diesel and maintenance is cheaper.

You can increase your savings even further if you:

• drive a lot (over 15,000 kilometres per year)
• charge your vehicle at home
• have home solar.

The ACT has some of the most generous financial incentives available for ZEV purchase in Australia. These include:

• zero interest loans
• stamp duty exemptions
• lower registration fees.

Prices for new ZEVs are continuing to drop, with many options now available below $40,000. New manufactures are continuing to enter the market, which increases competition, reducing vehicle prices further.

With more than 10,000 ZEVs on the road, Canberrans are saving almost $24 million per year on running costs.

What about the environmental benefits?

Doing your bit to reduce emissions helps our city take action on climate change.

More than 40 percent of the ACT’s greenhouse gas emissions come from private vehicle use.

With 10,000 ZEVs on the road, emissions are reduced by 32,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. That has real benefits to our environment, health and the quality of our air.

Canberrans who own ZEVs are helping to reduce the city’s use of non-renewable energy sources. They are helping us save around 13 million litres of petrol or diesel per year. That’s roughly five Olympic swimming pools.

To find out how much you could save by making the switch to electric, try our free Total Cost of Ownership tool.

Visit the Climate Choices website for more information on owning a ZEV in the ACT.

Read more like this:

• EVs assist during Australia-wide blackout
• More EV chargers on the way
• New EV fast chargers for Canberra’s north

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