The Australian Government has expanded the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream beyond chargers to now include EV-specific PPE, workshop equipment, tools and lifting equipment in Round 3, adopting recommendations put forward by the AADA to support franchised new car dealers in the transition to electric vehicles.
To support increased EV uptake through greater consumer confidence, the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream 2026 to 2029 will provide $18.8 million to automotive dealerships and EV repairers for the purchase and/or installation of fixed smart EV charging units, portable DC EV charging units and EV-specific equipment.
Key changes under Round 3 include:
- Expanded scope covering up to 80 per cent of eligible costs for EV-specific PPE, workshop equipment, tools and lifting equipment purchased on or after 12 May 2026.
- Increased rebate cap to $50,000 per site across all rounds, with previous recipients able to apply again for eligible expenditure up to the overall cap.
- Have at least $5,000 of eligible expenditure per site, per claim, to receive a rebate.
The rebate stream will continue to provide:
- Rebates up to $3,000 per eligible EV charging plug purchased on or after 26 March 2024, within a cap of $21,000 per site.
- A maximum of $250 to cover third-party administrative fees for application assistance.
It is important to note that dealerships operating under multiple franchisee agreements out of the one rooftop site may make an application for each vehicle manufacturer they have a franchise agreement with.
Applications for Round 3 close on the 30 April 2027 at 5:00 pm AEST.
The Department will be hosting three information sessions covering the same content and to support the program’s expansion to include EV-specific workshop equipment.
- Information Session #1
When: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Time: 10:00 pm – 10:45am (AEST)
Registration: To attend the session, please register using the following link. - Information Session #2
When: Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm (AEST)
Registration: To attend the session, please register using the following link. - Information Session #3
When: Thursday, 22 October 2026
Time: 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm (AEST)
Registration: To attend the session, please register using the following link.