A local car dealership is lukewarm about changes to the rules to allow the sale of larger electric and hybrid vehicles, saying the extra length and width is not enough.

On Friday, the House of Assembly passed the Motor Car (Electric or Hybrid Private Motor Cars) Amendment Act 2024, enabling local drivers to buy bigger electric and hybrid cars up to 176in long and 72in wide – an extra inch in width and length.

“We are always pleased to see more allowances being made for electric vehicles in Bermuda,” said Andre Labonte, president of Evolution Motors. “While this is a step in the right direction, a one-inch increase such as this will not, unfortunately, make a significant difference to the models of cars that will be available to local buyers.”

Mr Labonte said the biggest constraint to importing new models was width.

“Most batteries need a wider housing than consumers might realise,” he said. “For example, an MG3 is classed as E Class by TCD but is the same width as many larger H Class vehicles.”

Mr Labonte said a vast array of new electric cars would only really be unlocked with a width allowance increase of up to two inches.

Auto Solutions however, was extremely pleased, stating that in the hours since news went out about the amendments passing, they had already had seven inquiries into EVs.

“We are satisfied with what has been approved,” said Auto Solutions managing director Glen Smith.

He said the new rules would allow Auto Solutions to bring in four different models of EVs.

“We should be good with this size,” he said. “As technology moves on, we are hoping manufacturers will make more smaller electric cars.”

He said the amendments still had to pass through the Senate and then go to Government House for approval.

“By the end of July or mid August we should be in a better position to know what we will be bringing in,” he said.

The firm will also have to get the importation of EV models approved by the manufacturers themselves.

Auto Solutions had to put selling EVs on hold in 2022 when the models they offered increased slightly in size, the Nissan Leaf by 1.75 inches, and the Hyundai Kona by 0.85 inches.

The amendments mean they will be able to bring in the Kona, but the Leaf is still too big.

They have since been working with the Government to change the legislation.

“It has been a long road, three or four years,” said Auto Solutions Operations manager Harry Andrews.

He said the Government had brought in a firm called Rocky Mountain Consulting to help them look at the issue.

“Ourselves and the Bermuda Automotive Dealers Association have been very involved in talks and giving feedback,” he said. “It has been great to be involved.”

He called the amendments “positive for Auto Solutions and the industry as a whole”.

Mr Andrews was confident Bermuda’s infrastructure could handle the “slight” increase allowed for in the new amendment and said the Government was wise to include hybrid vehicles.

Another EV entrepreneur, Michael Swan, of Local Motion, said the changes would not impact his business since he only rents and sells electric minicars.

“We feel that the smaller cars, that we have, are ideal for Bermuda,” Mr Swan said. “I do realise that the main dealers here are having difficulty sourcing vehicles for sale that fit into the current legislation.”

However, Mr Swan did not think there would be much impact on Bermuda’s driving environment with such a small size increase.

“The impact will be felt by the purchasers of the larger cars, as I’m sure that in driving them on our existing roads they will incur the wrath of Bermuda’s walls,” he said.