Lobby group to press gov't for reduced import duty on electric vehicles

Stakeholders in the automobile and energy sectors say they will be putting pressure on government to reduce the import duty on electric vehicles.

They say the current import duty of more than 60 per cent in some instances, is prohibitive to the purchase electric vehicles in Jamaica.

Senior Vice-President of energy delivery at the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Sheree Martin, says the importation of electrically-powered vehicles would significantly reduce the country's import bill since oil for energy generation accounts for the lion share of the foreign exchange Jamaica spends annually on imports.

Martin also says the move would greatly benefit the environment, especially with the advent of climate change and the associated effects on small island states.

In addition to the macroeconomic benefits to the country, electric vehicles are said to cost less to own and maintain when compared to petrol-fuelled vehicles that have an internal combustion engine.

This is because electric vehicles do not carry an internal combustion engine that are made up of hundreds of mechanical parts that wear down and need replacement over time.