THE only supplier of electric cars in the Isle of Man has ceased trading saying the existence of the company "is not justified or sustainable".
e-Go Vehicles Ltd said it made the decision following an announcement by the Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture John Shimmin MHK at the end of March.
Mr Shimmin said that the Isle of Man would not provide subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles similar to that enjoyed in the UK and Ireland.
Currently people can claim £5,000 per vehicle in the UK and €5,000 per vehicle in Ireland to encourage them to adopt zero and low emission vehicles.
A statement released from Steve Burrows from e-Go today said: "The Isle of Man has not followed the leadership of other nations in supporting the transition to low-energy, low-emission vehicles meaning that subsidised foreign imports undermine the potential for local retailers to develop a market supplying cleaner and greener vehicles on the Island.
"The directors have therefore reluctantly taken the decision that the further existence of the company is not justified or sustainable following the definitive announcement by the Isle of Man Government's Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture at the end of March 2011 that the Isle of Man will not provide subsidy for the purchase of electric vehicles similar to that enjoyed over the water in the UK and Ireland.
"We believe that savvy Isle of Man residents wishing to purchase an electric vehicle will easily be able to obtain subsidised vehicles from those jurisdictions placing e-Go and other potential Isle of Man electronic vehicle retailers at significant commercial disadvantage.
"We wish to thank our business partners who have supported e-Go over the past two years including the Electric Car Corporation, Manx Electricity Authority, Rossborough (IoM), Tower Insurance, Shimmin Wilson & Co, Signrite IoM and Barclays Wealth. We have appreciated and are grateful for their services and support.
"Over the two years during which e-Go has brought new vehicle technology to the island we have received an enthusiastic welcome from many residents and businesses who clearly share our vision of the merits and relevance of electric vehicles to the Isle of Man.
"We hope that at some point in the future' the Isle of Man Government will find itself in a position to give more support to encouraging the adoption of zero-emission, low-energy vehicles on the Island."
The company closes solvent and with no creditors.
Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister John Shimmin MHK said: "It is regrettable that Mr Burrows has been forced to take this decision but I fully understand his reasoning.
"Myself and government are very supportive of electric vehicle development but cannot find the available economic funds to support the purchase of these vehicles in a similar way to the UK and elsewhere.
"We have to ensure that we prioritise our limited amount of money in a way in which produces the best environmental benefit."
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