Installed EV chargers since March 2024? You could still claim back thousands under DRIVEN

Here’s something many dealers don’t realise.

If you’ve installed smart EV chargers since 26 March 2024 and haven’t claimed a rebate for them, you may still be eligible to get some of that money back.

Potentially, quite a bit of it.

Round 3 offers up to $3,000 per eligible charger plug and total support of up to $50,000 per site.

And this round goes further than the previous ones. It can cover chargers you’ve already installed, chargers you’re planning to install and, for the first time, eligible EV workshop equipment.

There is one important catch: funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the available funding is committed, the opportunity is gone.

So, if you’ve installed chargers over the past couple of years, now would be a good time to find those invoices.

So, what exactly is DRIVEN?

DRIVEN stands for the Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally. Yes, somebody clearly worked hard to make that acronym fit.

Behind the name, though, the idea is pretty straightforward.

It’s a federal program funded through the Driving the Nation Fund, designed to help the businesses that sell, service and repair vehicles prepare for the transition to electric.

And that transition is already well underway.

EVs now account for roughly a quarter of new vehicle sales in Australia. Every one of those vehicles needs to be charged at some point, whether it’s sitting in the showroom, being prepared for delivery or coming back through the workshop for servicing.

If your dealership is already finding itself short of charging capacity, you'll know exactly what that looks like.

Round 3 at a glance

What’s different this time?

The biggest change in Round 3 is the addition of workshop equipment.

Rounds 1 and 2 focused on charging infrastructure. Round 3 also covers eligible EV-specific tools, PPE and lifting equipment, provided they meet the requirements of AS 5732:2022, the Australian Standard covering electric vehicle maintenance and repair.

Businesses can claim up to 80% of eligible equipment costs, with individual item limits set out in the program guidelines.

And if you claimed in an earlier round, that doesn't necessarily mean you're finished.

The $50,000 limit applies to each site across all rounds, rather than being a separate $50,000 allowance for each round. So, if you only used part of your site's allowance previously, you may still have room to claim more.

You don't have to do everything at once, either.

More than one application can be lodged for the same site until the overall cap is reached. That gives dealerships some flexibility. You might install additional chargers now, for example, then invest in eligible workshop equipment later.

Which chargers qualify?

One thing that surprises plenty of people is that there isn't a prescribed list of approved charger brands or models.

What matters is that the charger is fixed and “smart”. In practical terms, that means it's connected online so its energy use can be monitored, managed and adjusted.

There are three details worth understanding before you start adding up your potential rebate.

• First, the rebate is calculated per plug, not per charger. A dual-plug charger therefore counts as two plugs.
• Second, portable DC chargers can qualify, but portable AC chargers don’t.
• Third, the purchase and installation dates matter. Fixed chargers need to have been purchased and installed on or after 26 March 2024. Eligible workshop equipment needs to have been purchased on or after 12 May 2026.

That March 2024 date is particularly important.

If you've installed smart chargers since then and never made a claim, don't assume you've missed the opportunity. Pull out the invoices and check.

There could still be a worthwhile rebate sitting there.

What could that look like in practice?

Let's take a dealership that installs four dual-plug smart AC chargers across its service and vehicle delivery areas.

Four dual-plug chargers give the site eight charging plugs.

At $3,000 per plug, the calculation initially comes to $24,000. Because the charger component of the rebate is capped at $21,000 per site, the dealership could receive up to $21,000 towards the chargers.

Now assume the same dealership also spends $20,000 on eligible EV-rated hoists and insulated workshop tools.

At an 80% rebate, that could add another $16,000.

Potential rebate: up to $37,000, leaving $13,000 under the site’s overall cap for a future eligible claim.

This is an illustration rather than a rebate quote. The actual amount will depend on your eligible expenditure and the applicable program guidelines.

Who can apply?

Broadly, applicants need to fall into one of two categories.

Licensed motor dealers and traders

This includes new and used vehicle dealers, as well as service centres attached to a licensed dealership.

If several manufacturer franchises operate from the same site, a separate application can be submitted for each manufacturer.

Automotive repairers

Repair businesses need to operate from commercial, non-residential premises, comply with AS 5732:2022 and have at least one staff member qualified to work on EVs.

In either case, applicants need an ABN and an Australian bank account, and each application relates to a single site.

There's another point worth being careful about.

If an application is incomplete or something isn't right, don't assume someone will call and help straighten it out. An incomplete application can simply be marked unsuccessful.

You may be able to correct and resubmit it while the round remains open, but not afterwards. Taking a few extra minutes to check the paperwork before submitting it could save a lot of frustration.

The rebate is one thing. Getting the charging setup right is another.

A rebate can take a meaningful chunk out of the upfront cost, but the real value comes from installing charging infrastructure that actually works for the dealership day to day.

Before ordering chargers, start with how your site operates.

Where will vehicles actually charge?

A delivery bay has a very different charging pattern from a service bay, used-car yard or customer car park.

How quickly do you need vehicles charged?

If a car is going to sit for several hours, AC charging may be all you need. If a customer is arriving soon and the vehicle needs to be topped up before handover, access to DC charging can make a significant operational difference.

What can your existing electrical supply handle?

This is an area where smart load management can make a big difference. Rather than assuming you need an expensive supply upgrade, it may be possible to manage the available capacity intelligently across several chargers.

And don't forget the customer side of the equation.

A publicly accessible charger can potentially generate revenue, but there’s another benefit that’s harder to put on a spreadsheet: giving EV drivers another reason to visit and return to your dealership.

We've implemented EV charging solutions for dealerships including Western Ford and Volvo, so we understand that the best solution isn't necessarily the charger with the biggest number on the front.

It's the one that fits the way the dealership actually works.

Frequently asked questions

How much can a dealership claim under DRIVEN?

Up to $3,000 per eligible smart charger plug, with charger rebates capped at $21,000 per site. When eligible workshop equipment is included, total support can reach up to $50,000 per site.

When does Round 3 close?

Round 3 is scheduled to close on 30 April 2027, although it may close earlier if the available $18.8 million in funding is exhausted.

Can I claim for chargers I've already installed?

Quite possibly. Fixed eligible chargers purchased and installed on or after 26 March 2024 may qualify.

Do I have to use a particular charger brand?

No. There isn't a specific approved brand list. The charger needs to meet the program requirements, including being smart and connected so energy use can be monitored and managed.

We claimed in an earlier round. Can we apply again?

Yes, provided you haven't reached the overall $50,000 per-site limit across all rounds.

Already installed chargers? Start with the invoices.

If your dealership or workshop has installed smart EV chargers since March 2024, the first step is surprisingly simple: check what you installed, when it was installed and whether you’ve already claimed for it.

You may already have eligible infrastructure sitting in your car park.

For businesses planning new infrastructure, DRIVEN also creates an opportunity to think beyond simply installing a charger. The right setup should take into account your electrical capacity, vehicle turnaround times, future EV volumes and how charging fits into the day-to-day operation of the site.

GetElectric designs and installs smart EV charging solutions for dealerships and workshops, certified to Australian Standards. We also provide the supporting installation documentation you’ll need for your rebate application, so you’re not trying to track it down afterwards.

Contact GetElectric to discuss your EV charging requirements.

Stock photo: Kindel Media / Pexels.