During a debate on regulations aimed at supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown highlights vehicle weight as a potential key factor influencing a person's decision to switch from an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle, particularly for those needing to tow a trailer when their driving licence has a 7 tonnes GVW restriction.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (North Cotswolds) (Con)
It is interesting, when sitting in the Chamber, to hear colleagues’ expertise on subjects that we did not know they had expertise in. I wish to draw my hon. Friend back to a slightly different subject, which he was beginning to touch on. Electric vehicles, which of course have batteries, tend to be far heavier than equivalent vehicles with an internal combustion engine. Some of the vehicle combinations that the Minister talked about—for example, he mentioned a vehicle and a trailer not exceeding 7 tonnes gross vehicle weight—would vary in weight depending on whether the car or van was electric. That might affect a person’s decision to change from a vehicle with an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle.
Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
My hon. Friend makes an accurate point. In some ways, the statutory instrument seeks to address that point. However, he is right that when real people out there in the country make choices on their vehicles, they will make practical decisions such as the one outlined by my right hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Kit Malthouse), rather than looking at some of the other things the Government from time to time wish they were thinking about when they make those choices.