Following sustained advocacy from MTA NSW, the Australian Government has expanded the
DRIVEN Charger Rebate Program to include rebates for both EV charging infrastructure and EV-specific workshop equipment.
The expansion represents an important outcome for automotive dealers and EV repairers, helping businesses invest in the equipment, infrastructure and safety systems needed to support Australia’s growing electric vehicle fleet.
Up to $50,000 available per eligible site
Automotive dealers and EV repairers can now claim rebates of up to $50,000 per eligible site.
Eligible support includes:
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EV chargers – up to $3,000 per plug, within a category cap of $21,000.
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EV-specific workshop equipment and tools – up to 80% of eligible costs, including EV-ready PPE, workshop safety fit-out, EV-specific vehicle hoists, battery health check and diagnostic equipment, battery lift equipment, insulated toolkits and more.
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Administration fees – up to $250 for assistance with submitting a rebate application.
View the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Program
A significant win for the automotive industry
The expansion recognises that preparing for an increasingly electrified vehicle fleet involves much more than installing charging infrastructure.
Dealers and repairers are also facing significant costs associated with specialised tooling, diagnostic equipment, workplace safety systems, battery handling equipment and other workshop infrastructure required to safely service and repair electric vehicles.
This is an area MTA NSW has continued to raise with government, including the need for practical support that recognises the real cost of preparing automotive businesses for new vehicle technologies.
The expansion of the DRIVEN Program is therefore a strong outcome for industry and reflects the importance of continued advocacy to ensure government programs better match the investment being made by automotive businesses.
Supporting members to prepare for EV servicing
As dealerships and workshops continue to build their EV capability, having the right safety equipment in place is an important first step.
MTA NSW members can already access an EV & Hybrid Electrical Safety Cabinet through the MTA NSW Online Shop, bringing together essential electrical safety products for workshops working around electric and hybrid vehicles.
With EV-ready PPE, workshop safety equipment and insulated tooling included among the types of equipment covered under the expanded rebate, the program may provide an opportunity for eligible businesses to invest further in their EV workshop capability.
View the EV & Hybrid Electrical Safety Cabinet
What equipment can be supported?
The expanded program includes a broad range of EV-specific workshop equipment, including:
- EV-ready personal protective equipment
- workshop safety fit-out
- EV-specific vehicle hoists
- battery health check and diagnostic equipment
- battery lift and handling equipment
- insulated toolkits
- other eligible EV-specific workshop equipment and tools
For businesses considering an investment in EV capability, the expansion creates a much broader opportunity to offset the cost of preparing their workshop for electric and hybrid vehicle servicing.
What should members do next?
Members considering applying for the expanded DRIVEN rebate are encouraged to attend one of the Australian Government information sessions being held following the opening of Round 3.
The three sessions will cover the same content and are designed to help businesses understand what is new in Round 3, key dates, the assessment process, applicant eligibility and eligible expenditure.
DRIVEN Round 3 information sessions
Session 1
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
10:00 am – 10:45 am (AEST)
Register for Session 1
Session 2
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm (AEST)
Register for Session 2
Session 3
Thursday, 22 October 2026
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm (AEST)
Register for Session 3
The sessions will also provide an opportunity to ask general questions about the rebate program and will cover frequently asked questions.
Attendance is not required to apply for a rebate and does not affect the outcome of an application.
Before attending, members are strongly encouraged to review the Grant Opportunity Guidelines and the Frequently Asked Questions so they can make the most of the session.
Read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines
View the Frequently Asked Questions
