Consumers will soon have additional vehicle options after the House of Assembly passed legislation for the residents to operate larger sizes of electric and hybrid private cars.

The passage of the Motor Car (Electric or Hybrid Private Motor Cars) Amendment Act 2024 will enable consumers to own electric and hybrid cars of an increased size of 176in in length and 72in wide.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, said the move was in keeping with a 2023 Speech from the Throne initiative made by the Government “to phase out the sale and importation of internal combustible engine vehicles by 2035”.

On Friday, Mr Furbert told the House that during the consultation process on the plan, a prominent concern expressed by consumers was the availability of hybrid and electric vehicles.

He said the island had faced challenges in accessing such vehicles, with larger markets being prioritised by manufacturers.

He said the Bermuda Auto Dealers Association had requested a larger size of electric and hybrid vehicles of 180in by 74in. Such a move would have resulted in 32 models of the specific vehicles to be imported in keeping with the law, Mr Furbert said.

However, he said the amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act would allow 11 models of vehicles.

Mr Furbert said the design of the vehicles in question was dictated partly by the size of the battery units.

He explained: “While we understand the desires, we seek to strike a balance as it is important to note that as technology advances, and the production of EV batteries becomes more efficient, these batteries are expected to become more efficient and more complex.”

He said the amendment reflected a commitment by the Government “to adapting our legal framework to keep pace with the technological advancements and the evolving needs of modern transportation”.

Susan Jackson, the Shadow Minister of Transport, said while the move was progressive, she was concerned about the island’s “very narrow roads”.

She said: “What are our plans for road safety going forward?

“If we are going to be importing larger vehicles, in particular this electric or hybrid vehicle, we absolutely have to up our game as far as road safety is concerned.”

Ms Jackson also questioned whether mechanics would be trained to fix the electric model vehicles.

She said: “How are we going to transition our automotive industry of mechanics and experts into this electrified industry?”

She suggested that young people could be trained and may wish to explore a career in fixing electric cars.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, said that as a driver of an electric vehicle, she supported the amendment.

Ms Furbert said: “The bigger picture for this, as consumers, is the ability to have an electric vehicle which is good on the environment, and it saves on your pockets.”

She said she saved approximately $500 a month in gas and noted that the cost to recharge her vehicle had a “very minimal” impact on her electricity bill.

She noted that having an electric vehicle “is a great fit” for residents since people do not have to drive long distances. “We are only driving from Dockyard to St George’s,” she said.

Derrick Burgess, the Deputy Speaker of the House, said while he supported the move, he was concerned about the long-term impact on jobs.

He questioned: “What is going to be the impact of having 100 per cent electric vehicles in the country when we have gas stations, the staff, mechanics, the garages? How is this going to affect them?”

He suggested that a limit should be placed on the number of electric and hybrid cars that could be imported.

Mr Burgess said: “I think we got to be very cautious. I think we need a professional impact report on going 100 per cent in any way as far as vehicles are concerned.

“As good as it may sound, we have those workers out there concerned.”

Craig Cannonier, the Shadow Minister of Tourism and Public Works, suggested that the move to transition to having more electric cars should be examined more comprehensively.

He said: “We might be in for a basket of challenges that we didn’t foresee. This is going to be a challenge when we look further down the road on where we’re going.”

Mr Furbert said that globally countries were transitioning to using electric and hybrid vehicles.

He said statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of electric vehicles on the island, up from 200 in 2018 to approximately 600 now.

He said: “Time has changed, and times will continue to change.

“We adapt, we make changes, countries make changes, the Government make changes and we adapt.”

At the moment, consumers do not pay duty for the importation of electric cars, and Mr Furbert noted that this would not change under the Progressive Labour Party government.