Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of existing health and safety standards on (a) electric vehicles and (b) their batteries.

All vehicles used on UK roads must comply with rigorous safety requirements. The UK is actively involved in the ongoing development of international regulations for road vehicle approval at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. These regulations consider novel risks and potential safety concerns associated with hybrid and electric vehicles.

The crashworthiness regulations have been reviewed and amended accordingly, whilst a specific regulation dealing with electrical safety of vehicles has been updated to include provisions for the mechanical and electrical testing of the battery, its fire resistance, and electrical insulation.