The Greens have also confirmed that key elements of their “electric vehicle revolution” would be included in any parliamentary agreement should they win the balance of power, as exists in the current ACT Assembly.

The Greens would set aside $50 million to fund their electric vehicle incentive program.

The $10,000 per car subsidy would provide a huge boost for small businesses like Ion DNA, a Fyshwick direct importer and retailer of second-hand electric cars.

Rob Ogilvie, who set up his business a year ago, said the “common sense” move to extend the subsidy to include used vehicles would lower the price point to a level where a lot more people could afford an electric vehicle.

“A subsidy makes great sense; it’s how other markets have got going initially and it suddenly makes owning an electric car in Canberra a very affordable and sensible proposition,” he said.

“This is exactly the kick-start that the electric vehicle industry here needs to get customers engaged and interested.”

California kick-started its “clean vehicle rebate program” with a $US7000 subsidy which extended to include hybrids like the Toyota Prius.

Greens leader and ACT Sustainability Minister Shane Rattenbury said an artificial stimulus of this kind would generate demand in the ACT, and in turn create greater market competition.

“By generating the demand, dealers bring in more cars, the market becomes more competitive, and competition forces the prices down,” he said.

“In countries like Norway where EV sales have really taken off, the government subsidy has provided that initial important stimulus.

“People start to do their math on the reduced purchase price and low running costs and realise it just makes good sense.”

The party also wants 50 new charging stations across the ACT, with incentives for stations in multi-unit residential and commercial buildings.