EVs, hybrids gain traction with consumers – dealers

Barbadians are increasingly embracing electric (EV) and hybrid vehicles (HEVs), with dealerships reporting a sharp rise in demand as consumers seek to lower fuel costs and take advantage of government incentives.

The trend comes as Minister of Energy Kerrie Symmonds last week suggested that Barbados should transition largely to electric vehicles within the next five to ten years to reduce the island’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and lower energy costs.

General Manager of Caribbean Automotive Retailers (CAR) Barbados, Christopher Yearwood, said sales data across the dealer network point to a significant shift away from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Caribbean Automotive Retailers (CAR) Barbados

“So there’s definitely been a big change in demand for hybrid and electric vehicles versus conventional,” he said. “The uptake on EV has moved basically from ten per cent in 2025 to 20 per cent in 2026 year to date, with HEV remaining more or less consistent. That growth is really coming from a reduction in conventional ICE vehicles.”

Yearwood said interest in electric and hybrid vehicles spans all age groups, with financial savings emerging as the biggest motivation.

“I would say the interest comes from the whole band of drivers. It’s not specific to any age group,” he said, noting that switching from a conventional vehicle to a hybrid can cut fuel costs by about 50 per cent, while moving to a fully electric vehicle can reduce operating costs by roughly 75 per cent.

He also credited government concessions with making the technologies more affordable.

“Thanks to the initiatives from the government and the rebates on both the EV and hybrid vehicles, the price disparity… has kind of levelled the playing field,” Yearwood said.

He argued Barbados is well suited for electric vehicles, pointing out that most new EVs have ranges exceeding 400 kilometres while the average Barbadian drives only about 50 kilometres daily. He added that installing a home charger is relatively inexpensive and quickly offset by fuel savings, while charging at home also offers greater convenience.

Commercial retail director for Inchcape Barbados, Justin Inniss, said the market has undergone a rapid transformation in just a few years.

Commercial retail director for Inchcape Barbados, Justin Inniss

“I wouldn’t say the transition is slow at all,” he said. “When we look back in 2023, about 26 per cent of the vehicles sold on the island were either hybrid or electric. Looking at the first half of 2026, 72 per cent of the new vehicles sold were hybrid and electric, and of that 21 per cent were actually full EV.”

He described the shift toward what he called “new energy vehicles” as occurring at a rapid pace.

Inniss also dismissed the notion that electric vehicles appeal only to younger motorists.

“It’s a mix,” he said. “Some customers are more inclined to try new technology than others… We have some older customers buying the latest EVs, and we have younger consumers buying those vehicles as well.”

General manager of Courtesy Garage Barbados, Andrez Greene, said excitement around the technology continues to build, particularly following the company’s recent launch of a new range of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Chery vehicles.

“We are seeing that a lot of first-time buyers are considering and purchasing EVs given the overall low cost of ownership… as well as safety features and technology.”

Portable chargers are helping remove one of the barriers to ownership by allowing drivers to charge vehicles from a standard 220-volt outlet, making EVs a viable option even for people without permanent home charging installations, he said.

Greene also sought to reassure consumers about reliability, noting that buyers purchasing through authorised dealers benefit from manufacturer warranties and after-sales support.

“We’ve found now that the batteries are lasting quite long, so a lot of the fears regarding the lifespan of the batteries have now been reduced with the improved technology,” he said. “Once you get accustomed to an EV, it’ll be hard to transition back to your internal combustion.”

A suite of fiscal incentives has been introduced to nudge motorists towards EVs, including reduced import duty of ten per cent on new and used battery‑electric cars, a four‑year excise tax and VAT holiday, and accelerated tax write‑offs for companies buying EVs. These measures are backed up by concessionary, interest‑free loans for eligible public officers and promotion of a low‑interest revolving fund to help public service vehicle operators switch to cleaner buses and vans.

Owners of low‑emission vehicles have been charged an “alternate fuel levy” of $25 a month from 2023 to compensate for the loss of revenue from the shift of taxes from road registration to petrol. 

The incentives are framed by the government as part of its push towards a 100 per cent renewable, carbon‑neutral economy by 2030, with electrification of the Transport Board bus fleet identified as a key pillar of that transition. 

(SB)