Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the car industry on the safety of (a) electric vehicles and (b) electric vehicle charging infrastructure for people with heart pacemakers.

I have regular meetings with both representatives of the car industry and Ministerial colleagues about a wide range of issues pertinent to our support for the transition to zero emission driving.

The Government regards public safety to be of paramount importance and we require that all electric vehicle technology supported by public funding must clearly demonstrate how it is safe before it is awarded funding.

Electric vehicle chargepoints must meet the relevant legislation for electro-magnetic radiation as defined in the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016 and the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 2016 which covers requirements for compatibility with pacemakers. All electric vehicles eligible for the Government’s Plug-in Grant schemes are required to provide evidence that they are compliant with current electrical safety regulations.