Electric cars

The news 'Meet the Reva, the Indian electric car', ( September 16), that a battery-driven car has been launched on the Maltese market makes very encouraging reading - especially for those who are afflicted with asthma and other pollution induced health problems.

Battery driven cars are highly suited to our islands as travelling distances are short. The introduction of environmentally friendly vehicles is now also a matter of urgency since pollution from fossil fuel driven cars has now reached crisis proportions.

Unfortunately, the environmental friendliness and fantastic economy of this type of vehicle will be given little importance by potential buyers in Malta who regard their car as the ultimate status symbol. The government should show its commitment to the environment (and, therefore, our health) by encouraging the use of electric (or hybrid) cars through greater tax concessions and drastic reduction of road tax - at least until electric cars have been accepted. This will help to induce a change in the attitude of motorists to electric cars and compensate for the initial inconvenience to drivers until charging points become established all over the island.

The modest decrease in price of electric cars through reduction of the registration tax (currently lowered to 16.5 per cent from 50 per cent) still does not reduce the initial price of electric cars sufficiently to overcome prejudices and encourage their purchase. A stronger incentive is needed to induce prospective buyers of electric cars to overcome their initial resistance to investing in a car of modest appearance and performance in comparison to the more luxurious petrol or diesel driven cars. The tremendous economy of these cars lies not in the initial expense of buying such a vehicle but in the unbelievably low running and maintenance costs.

One answer would be to exempt electric cars totally from VAT, levies and registration fees for a period of, say, five years in order to give these vehicles a chance to become established and accepted. A drastic reduction in road licence fees would add to the attraction. After the five-year period, the tax concessions can be phased out to the current level or a level sufficiently below that of fossil fuel driven cars to provide a continued incentive.

Maybe insurance companies could also chip in and reduce insurance premiums on electric cars. After all, Rambo drivers are hardly likely to buy an electric car.

A nice thought is that the government might one day come round to consider the introduction of electric buses. This is, of course, an impossible dream.