Used car importers want money poured into electric vehicle grants

Grants given for the registration of new petrol or diesel cars should be scrapped and the money instead poured into subsidies to encourage electric vehicles, used car importers have said.  The proposal, presented by the Malta Car Importers Association and Used Vehicles Importers Association, would raise the purchase prices of internal combustion engine vehicles while lowering those of electric equivalents.  The two associations said that additional electric vehicle grants could increase electric vehicle imports by up to 11,000 annually. “Thus, the government’s target of having 65,000 EVvehicles by 2030 would be surpassed by up to 31,000 EVs,” it said in a document laying out its pre-budget proposals.  According to official statistics, there were just under 4,000 registered electric vehicles in Malta by the end of June - 0.9 per cent of the total vehicle stock in the country. The association described the five-point document as “a proactive roadmap for the electrification of vehicles found across the Maltese islands.” Its five proposals are:  A bigger budget for EV vehicle grants. A collective effort to ensure funds are distributed fairly among all stakeholders. Abolishing...