This report is about the application of the Victorian Government’s road-user charge for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (zero and low emission vehicles, or ’ZLEVs’). Owners of fuel-powered vehicles contribute to the maintenance of roads through the Commonwealth fuel excise. To ensure that owners of ZLEVs pay their ‘fair share’, they are charged for each kilometre they travel on public roads, including outside Victoria.

The charge is imposed by the Zero and Low Emission Vehicle Distance-based Charge Act 2021, the validity of which is being challenged in the High Court.

This investigation does not touch on the validity of the legislation, plainly a matter for the High Court. Nor does the Ombudsman consider whether it is good public policy to impose a charge on electric vehicles when the government has adopted a ‘roadmap to net-zero emissions and a climate resilient Victoria by 2050’.