It is alright for some I guess. So Tauranga MP Simon Bridges MP thinks purchasing a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which is RRP $59,000 when the base petrol model is $40,000 and an Audi A3 E-tron RRP $75,000 when the base petrol model is $50,000, is the bee's knees and helping to save the planet. Well for starters both these vehicles are hybrids and not fully electric with limited ranges and neither would be flavour of the month with most motorists. Undoubtedly, most people support the concept of fully electric cars - not hybrids - provided these vehicles are reasonably priced and are readily serviceable. Prices of hybrids that are 50 per cent dearer than comparative petrol vehicles represents fiscal madness and an indulgence that Mr and Mrs Average Kiwi cannot afford - even as ‘his and her' vehicles even at the cheaper end. Living in the rarefied air of politics has seemingly affected Mr Bridges' judgement and he confuses hybrid vehicles with fully electric cars like Telsa that are even dearer. Frankly, as Minister of Transport, he really has no business touting any type of vehicle particularly those that don't stack up and are not financially viable. Oh and while on the topic of motor vehicles - let's not forget that in early 2016 the National Government took delivery of at least 32 BMW 730LD luxury ministerial vehicles at $200,000 each when Toyotas Hondas or Fords would have done the trick at a fraction of the cost. All of this with not an electric or hybrid vehicle in sight and the reason given was limited range was an issue. Mr Bridges gets to use these ministerial vehicles so let the public be the judge of Mr Bridges' pronouncement on ‘electric' motor vehicles.

R Paterson, Matapihi.