HL Deb 12 March 1990 vol 516 cc1304-6

2.46 p.m.

Lord Ironside asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the number of electric vehicles now registered for use on public highways in the United Kingdom for commercial and private purposes is increasing, and whether they are taking steps to encourage their wider use.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, the number of electric vehicles licensed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland fell from 33,138 to 31,296 between December 1985 and December 1988; that is a 5.6 per cent drop.

With a view to exploring the potentialities of electric vehicles the Government have funded a considerable programme of research in the last decade. In addition, no excise duty is charged on electric vehicles or electricity used as fuel. The department continues to keep in close touch with electric vehicle research and developments worldwide.

Lord Ironside

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for coming clean with that Answer, disappointing as it is. It shows that environmentally clean electric vehicles are still struggling hard to keep up with the sea of internal combustion engine vehicles now on our roads—

Noble Lords

Question!

Lord Ironside

In spite of the considerable government aid that has been given over the past 10 years, which is welcome, is my noble friend aware that tough clean air legislation is about to be enacted in the United States to force car makers to use cleaner fuels? Does he agree that the Government should have discussions with the electric vehicle industry in this country to ascertain how high-tech and high-powered new electric vehicles can be introduced on to our roads?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, a considerable amount of money was funded during the past decade, including more than £11 million by the DTI. United Kingdom companies are actively involved in the work overseas and officials are keeping in touch with developments.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, despite what the noble Viscount has said I do not believe that he has quoted fully the reply given by the Minister responsible for roads and traffic on 13th February. He said that a fair amount of research had been carried out by TRRL and the Departments of Transport and Trade and Industry and that no further funding would be given. Surely, it is an important matter that the Government should continue to fund, despite the present lack of attractiveness of electric vehicles. Should not the Government encourage research and be prepared to fund it?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, all options which might help to reduce vehicle emissions are being kept under review, although I agree that no direct assistance is being given to electric vehicles at present.

Lord Ezra

My Lords, in reply to his noble friend the Minister said that the department was keeping in close touch with developments abroad. Can he say whether, statistically, what has happened here is mirrored by what is happening in other countries?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot, but I shall try to find out and write to the noble Lord.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

My Lords, does the noble Viscount not agree that it would help in the development of electric vehicles if preferential treatment were given to such vehicles either by means of reduced VAT or the abolition or waiving of the special car tax on such vehicles?

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, incentives such as free parking have a marginal effect on running costs and would not ease urban congestion. There will be an indirect incentive for electric vehicles because of the extra costs incurred in meeting more stringent vehicle emission standards for other types of vehicles.

The Viscount of Oxfuird

My Lords, I wish to declare an interest in that for the past 25 years I have worked for one of this country's major electric vehicle manufacturers, Materials Handling. Is my noble friend aware of the very great savings that can be achieved by the use of battery-electric equipment of this type? In America recently an analysis was made of an airline operation using battery-electric tow tractors. The costings were 70 per cent. lower than for internal combustion engine equipment. We have to remember that the battery is a major investment and that it is amortised over a four-year period. It is not like petrol; you do not fill up a tank. There is a consistent and determined level of pre-investment when the original battery-electric equipment is bought.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I am sure the whole House will join me in welcoming back my noble friend after his serious accident. I was a little stymied by his last remarks. They were slightly too technical for me to take on board immediately. We welcome initiatives by individual companies. The greatest incentive must be the production of vehicles which are attractive and which the public are willing to buy.

Lord Glenamara

My Lords, one of the great disappointments of the present age is that we have not discovered how to store electricity in a reasonably small space. Does the noble Viscount not agree that it would be worthwhile putting a major research effort into this matter? The widespread use of electric vehicles could make a major contribution towards cleaning up the atmosphere. However it cannot be done until we have solved the storage problem.

Viscount Davidson

My Lords, I shall certainly draw my right honourable friend's attention to what the noble Lord has said.