Proposals will be put to Tynwald in March which could see electric vehicles exempted from paying road tax.

According to Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, the measure is part of a number of proposals to be put forward on changes to vehicle tax next month.

Mr Harmer was responding in House of Keys to a question from Douglas North MHK David Ashford, who wanted to know what consideration the DOI had given to variations in duty for ’alternative fuel’ cars.

Mr Ashford pointed out there was currently an anomaly where hybrid vehicles pay no duty but fully electric ones are still charged a fee.

The vehicle duty order to be put in March will be an interim one pending a full review of road pricing, Mr Harmer said.

’This will attempt to address the competing priorities of maintaining revenue while recognising government’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and creating incentives to desirable behaviours,’ he said, adding consideration also needed to be given to supporting the commercial sector and poorer families as well.

He said the revisions would involve wide consultation as well as a consideration of approaches used in other jurisdictions.

Mr Ashford told the Keys changes to be introduced in April in the UK would see a range of alternative fuel cars exempted from road tax, not just electric ones.

Mr Harmer said the UK approach was one of those being considered. He also agreed that availability of recharging points around the island needed to be addressed if drivers were to be encouraged to swap to electric vehicles.