Cabinet to consider reducing import duties on electric vehicles

 

Negotiations are taking place at the Cabinet level for the reduction of duties on electric vehicles imported to Jamaica.

 

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Daryl Vaz says the Ministry of Finance has concluded its review of the fiscal regime to support the electric vehicle industry.

 

Mr. Vaz says the E-mobility Strategic Framework is to be submitted to Cabinet. 

 

"I can see clearly and speak clearly that as far as the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology is concerned, we are pushing for a significant reduction in the duties on electric vehicles. Currently, they are absolutely too high and hopefully we will get consensus in the coming weeks when we go to Cabinet," he said, noting the ministry wants "to encourage the use of electric vehicles and therefore we have to incentivise that".

 

Mr. Vaz said he hopes to have an interim policy arrangement on electric vehicles in place soon, until the full policy is announced in April. 

 

"We have established our Electric Vehicle Council to oversee the introduction of electro-mobility in the country. A working group has also been established to oversee the implementation of the E-mobility policy for this fiscal year," he revealed. 

 

Mr. Vaz was speaking Wednesday at the opening of the Jamaica Public Service Company and TotalEnergies charging station in Portland.

 

The Level 2 charging port will take twenty to thirty minutes to fully charge an electric vehicle.