EV WORKSHOP READY
Electric vehicles are here. Is your workshop ready?
EVs outsold petrol cars in Australia for the first time in August 2026. Every one of them will need servicing, and when the battery pack has to come out, it has to come out safely. Genesis supplies the lifting equipment to do it, and the Australian Government’s DRIVEN rebate may cover up to 80% of the cost.
of eligible EV-specific equipment costs
maximum rebate per site
this year’s funding closes, or earlier if it runs out. The rebate runs to 2029.
Eligibility is decided by the Australian Government, not Genesis Equipment. Check the guidelines at business.gov.au.
What's changing for Australian workshops
The EVs are arriving. Battery electric vehicles took 24.9% of new vehicle sales in August 2026, more than petrol. As they come out of warranty, owners will look for a workshop close to home.
Owners don’t know you can help. Research for the VACC found two in three EV owners believe only a specialist EV centre can service their car. Workshops that are equipped, and say so, win that work.
The bar is going up. AS 5732:2022 sets the minimum standard for EV maintenance and repair, and it is the benchmark behind industry programs like MTA EV Ready. In Victoria, roadworthy inspections on EVs and hybrids now need EV accreditation.
The battery has to come out safely. A battery pack is heavy, often part of the vehicle’s structure, and has to line up with its mounting points to the millimetre. A floor jack or transmission jack isn’t built for it.
The right EV lifting equipment
Taking out a battery is a two-part job: the vehicle goes up, and the battery comes down. Genesis Equipment supplies both.
Runs on its own battery with no leads across the floor, with roll, pitch and yaw adjustment to line packs up precisely. Suited to passenger EV work.
The same mobile platform as the EVS3000, but with more capacity for larger battery packs and powertrains.
Built for truck, bus and fleet workshops, with fine roll and pitch control and remote operation. The DRIVEN rebate covers car dealerships and automotive repairers, not heavy vehicle workshops.
Vehicle hoists
Before the battery comes out, the vehicle goes up. EV-specific hoists, and EV lifting adapters added to an existing hoist, can be claimed under DRIVEN. Talk to us about which suit your workshop. See our car lifts and heavy vehicle lifts.
How the DRIVEN rebate works
The Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally (DRIVEN) now covers EV-specific workshop equipment, including lifting equipment, as well as EV chargers.
Who may be eligible: licensed motor dealers and their service centres, and automotive repair businesses operating from commercial premises that comply with AS 5732:2022 and have at least one staff member qualified to work on EVs.
Key rules: up to 80% of eligible costs (ex GST) · minimum $5,000 eligible spend per claim · up to $50,000 per site · equipment bought on or after 12 May 2026 · up to five of each item per site · applications assessed in the order received · funding rounds close 30 April each year until 2029.
- Check eligibility — read the guidelines at business.gov.au.
- Choose your equipment — talk to Genesis about what suits your workshop.
- Buy and install — keep your tax invoice.
- Apply — through the business.gov.au portal, with your invoices and signed declaration.
- Get paid — the Government aims to pay within 30 business days of approval.
Before you apply: the paperwork checklist
Most rebate applications from small workshops don’t fall over on eligibility. They fall over on paperwork. If a required document is missing, the application is ineligible and you’ll need to lodge a new one — the department won’t ask you for it. Get these together first.
Have these ready
- Your ABN and business bank account details
- Proof at least one staff member is qualified to work on EVs, such as AURETH101, AURSS00063, AURSS00064 or the Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology — or your motor dealer licence
- A tax invoice for each item, showing it was bought and paid for on or after 12 May 2026
- The signed applicant declaration — the template is on business.gov.au
- An electrical safety certificate for any equipment that was installed or needed an electrical assessment, including vehicle hoists installed on or after 12 May 2026
- Proof you own the site, or the owner’s approval to install the equipment, including strata approval if it applies
Tips for completing the online form
- Save at least every 30 minutes. The portal times out, and typing doesn’t reset the clock.
- You can invite your bookkeeper or office manager to help, but only one person can save at a time.
- You’ll describe each type of equipment in up to 600 characters: what it is, and how you use it for EV work.
- Check everything before you submit. You can’t edit an application once it’s lodged.
What the rebate won’t cover
- Routine or ongoing costs, including maintenance or replacement of existing equipment
- Anything already funded by another government grant
- Workshops run from a home, including sheds and garages at a home address
- Technician training
Worth knowing
- Installation by a qualified technician can be claimed where equipment needs it
- One copy of the EV workshop standard, AS 5732:2022, can be claimed
- If someone helps prepare your application, up to $250 of their fee can be claimed
- Already received a DRIVEN charger rebate? You can still claim for EV equipment
- The rebate counts as taxable income, and claims exclude GST
- Sole traders can apply
- Expect an outcome about four weeks after you apply
Summarised from the DRIVEN guidelines and sample application form, September 2026. Always check the current guidelines at business.gov.au before you apply.
FAQ
Does Genesis decide if I’m eligible?
No. The Australian Government decides. The DRIVEN program has no affiliation with any equipment supplier, including Genesis.
I bought an EV lift table earlier this year, can I claim?
If you bought it on or after 12 May 2026 and meet the eligibility rules, you may be able to. Check the guidelines.
Do I need to be servicing EVs already?
No. The Government’s FAQ says you only need to meet the eligibility requirements.
What if this year’s funding runs out?
Applications lodged after a year’s funding runs out may be held and processed in the next financial year. The rebate runs until 2029.
Can Genesis Equipment apply for me?
We’ll help you choose the right equipment and supply your invoices, but you must apply directly through business.gov.au.
Get your workshop EV ready.
Talk to our team about the right EV lifting setup for your workshop.
Information current as at September 2026, summarised from the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream guidelines. Rebate eligibility and amounts are decided solely by the Australian Government. Genesis Equipment is not affiliated with the DRIVEN program.