Maltese MEP Peter Agius wants Maltese authorities to clarify who should bear responsibility over the scrapping of an electric car in the country. The MEP said he received complaints that scrapping an electric vehicle has cost some consumers up to €10,000.

PN MEP Peter Agius has appealed for Maltese authorities - namely the MCCAA and all other relevant departments - to clarify consumer rights on who must be responsible for the scrappage of an electric vehicle (EV).

In a video he posted on his Facebook page, the Member of the European Parliament said he has received complaints from three different people who were made to bear the costs for the scrappage of their EV after being involved in a car accident.

Agius mentioned that in one of these cases, a consumer was charged up to €10,000 to scrap their car.

The MEP noted that this charge - which he said is never mentioned by dealers prior or during the sale of any EV - is so high "because here in Malta, there is [only] one company that deals with this material from electric cars." He detailed that scrapping an EV takes extra delicate care to carefully dispose of its lithium battery and that, in Malta's case, this process must be done abroad.

The Nationalist Party MEP stated that this responsibility should not fall on people who purchase electric cars, i.e., consumers. He said that after checking EU law himself on this subject, he found that "EU law states that the responsibility for the disposal of lithium batteries falls on those who sold consumers the electric car."

Resultantly, he called for Maltese authorities to clarify this situation with local dealerships and with those buying an electric vehicle.

"It cannot be that the consumer ends up in these situations, where they have to haggle and fight over who is going to take the car and who is going to pay," he said.

Agius stated that consumers' rights in this regard must be clarified, especially as the country continues to promote the purchase of EVs due to their environmental benefits.

"We greatly believe in this new technology. We want to promote electric cars in our country as they pollute less, they are good for our communities, but we must clarify consumers' rights," Agius said.

The MEP concluded that he will continue to follow up on all issues that Maltese citizens bring to his attention and that they are invited to reach out to him if they have any issue they need to get off their chest.