More EV servicing equipment coming to Australian businesses following more government investment

The Australian Government has announced it’s expanding its DRIVEN Program, with investments in electric vehicle (EV) chargers and servicing equipment at dealerships.

Dealers, repairers and mechanics will now be able to claim 80 per cent of the cost of EV-specific workshop tools and equipment, including tools and protective equipment.

This is in addition to the up to $3000 claimable per EV charging plug, capped at $21,000, which was announced in September 2025.

All up, a total of $50,000 can be claimed per location, and this can retroactively apply to equipment already purchased – terms and conditions can be found on Business.gov.au.

Applications are open until April 30, 2027, with a total investment for this ‘rebate stream’ of $18.8 million between 2026 and 2029.

“The Albanese Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is giving Australians access to more models, and now our investment in charging infrastructure is making it easier and cheaper for Australian families to choose an EV,” said Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, in a press release.

“As electric vehicle sales overtake petrol car sales for the first time in Australia, now’s the time for dealerships, repairers and mechanics to update and upgrade their facilities so more Australian families can power up at a location closer to home.”

The expansion of the DRIVEN Program to include EV servicing and repair equipment was something the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) had pushed for in its pre-budget submission.

"AADA welcomes the Government for recognising that Australia's transition to electric vehicles requires more than charging infrastructure alone,” said AADA CEO James Voortman in a press release.

"Franchised dealers are investing millions of dollars in specialised equipment and workplace safety measures to support Australia's growing EV fleet, and the expansion of the DRIVEN Program acknowledges these real-world costs.

"Recent record EV sales demonstrate that the transition is happening now. These changes will help dealers meet the challenges of the fastest transition the Australian automotive industry has ever experienced while ensuring motorists continue to have access to safe, high-quality EV sales, servicing and repair facilities."

The DRIVEN Program – short for Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally – is intended to help drive sales of EVs in Australia, and support the ongoing servicing and repair of these vehicles.

It was first announced in 2024 as a $60 million investment under the Driving the Nation Fund, to increase the number of EV chargers at dealerships.

This investment in EV charging infrastructure was announced in tandem with looser New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) regulations, which had been put forward after industry opposition to the initial NVES scheme.

The program will run for five financial years. It started in 2024-25 and is due to conclude in 2028-29.

Of the original $60 million investment, $20 million was subsequently earmarked for the DRIVEN Charger Grant Stream, intended to fund new public fast-chargers at eligible dealerships, service centres, and repair workshops.

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