Low emissions vehicles

As a vehicle gets older, it will not operate at the same energy-efficient level. The discount is reduced by 5% each year to reflect the vehicle’s changing energy-efficiency level. Once your vehicle reaches its fifth year based on year of manufacture, it is no longer eligible.

Yes, provided the vehicle is less than five years old and recognised by the RAC as having lower emissions.

Anyone is eligible, whether they’re an RAC member or non-member, as long as the vehicle is recognised by the RAC as having lower emissions.

Vehicles emit more CO₂ than motorbikes and scooters, so they contribute more CO₂ to the atmosphere. Our focus is on reducing WA's carbon footprint by encouraging motorists to choose lower CO₂ emissions vehicles.

For policies that pre-date the launch date of 25 July 2012, there are no rebates. However a discount can be applied on renewal.

The criteria is based on data provided by Glass’s Information Services, and by considering the CO₂ emission output as determined by testing carried out according to the Australian Design Rules.

• More environmentally friendly
• Produce significantly less tail pipe emissions than petrol and diesel vehicles
• Easier and cheaper to maintain
• Not as noisy
• When recharged from renewable electricity, they produce zero tail pipe emissions

EVs are powered by an electric battery so, unlike petrol or diesel vehicles, they don't produce any tailpipe emissions.

WA's electricity generation mix fluctuates daily. In 2021, 15.4 per cent of WA's electricity was generated by renewables, with the remaining generation made up of natural gas (57.2 per cent), coal (21.8 per cent), and oil (5.6 per cent).

Recent European research indicates that EVs outperform diesel and petrol passenger vehicles, across all electricity generation makeups; and even on heavily carbon intensive grids. EVs charged by the average European electricity profile ‘repay their “carbon debt”’ after a year and can save over 30 tonnes of CO₂ across their lifetime when compared to an equivalent non-electric vehicle. Taxis, on-demand ride share and shared vehicles – vehicles that travel significantly greater distances – can save up to 85 tonnes over their lifetime.

Yes you can. The WA branch of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) is a great place to start for local information.

EVs use one or more electric motors for propulsion, and are recharged by plugging in to an external power source.

Some EVs are powered by electricity alone while others, such as plug-in hybrids, use a combination of electricity and liquid fuel, such as unleaded petrol. Other low emission vehicles use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen to electricity to power the engine, emitting only heat and water as by-products.

The range electric vehicles can travel has increased in recent years up to 700kms on a single charge. However most EVs on the market in Australia are able to travel between 250km to 500km on one charge.