Transport chiefs are hoping to buy new equipment that will allow them to carry out meaningful emissions tests on vehicles.

The Department of Infrastructure is already committed to increasing the number of electric vehicles on Manx roads to 10,000 by 2030, but in the House of Keys on Tuesday Bill Shimmins (Middle) wanted to know what emission tests are carried out on vehicles at the moment.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer admitted that the vehicle testing centre does not currently carry out full testing on emissions but revealed plans to bring in new equipment. ’The department is intent on introducing higher standards of emissions testing,’ the minister pledged.

’To achieve this the department intends to procure equipment that can be used to test vehicles during roadside checks and to make changes to appropriate legislation to ensure that checks take place more frequently.’

He said he hoped this ’enhanced approach’ would be in place within a year.

At present full calibrated emissions tests are not a requirement of the roadworthiness test.

But Mr Harmer added: ’Visual inspection is used to identify any smoke, visible vapour, toxic gases, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders or oily substances being emitted from a vehicle to an excessive extent.’

This was in line with current regulations.

’In addition, a potential problem with emissions on a vehicle may be identified during a vehicle test by a malfunction indicator lamp or a diesel particulate filter warning lamp shown on the instrument panel,’ Mr Harmer said.

Mr Shimmins also asked Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey what equipment the police had to carry out emissions tests on vehicles.

Mr Malarkey said the police did not carry out emissions tests. ’However, I think we all agree that we want vehicles on our roads which are not polluting and are in good order,’ he added.

Discussions had taken place in the Council of Ministers to pursue this, he said.