Sir, – Paul O’Shea of Planet Before Profit asks why we should be encouraged to replace a perfectly good car that can be repaired, serviced and legitimately kept on the road for longer (Letters, August 28th). The answer is obvious.
Since 1987, the year of a vehicle’s first registration has been prominently incorporated into its compulsory registration plate. In 2013, following years of lobbying by the motor industry, the system was extended further to show even which half of the year the car was first registered.
The purpose of that latter change was explicit. It was designed to influence the timing of new car purchases and create a second sales peak during the year.
A predictable (and for the motor industry, desirable) consequence of the overall system is to make the age of every car obvious, thereby reinforcing the social premium attached to having a newer registration.
RM Block
Needless to say, such an initiative would not be tolerated on any other consumer product: just imagine if every washing machine, electric shower or pair of shoes were required by law to carry a conspicuous tag displaying which half of which year it was purchased. A quick internet search indicates that this car registration practice is confined to a handful of countries worldwide.
While of course we need to transition to a lower-carbon way of living, we should remember the significant amount of embedded carbon already contained in every existing car. There should be no State-sponsored stigma attached to keeping an older vehicle on the road safely, cleanly and compliantly for longer.
In this, and as we move to encourage widespread adoption of EVs, Government needs to show real leadership and not just kowtow to vested interests. Promoting lower-carbon transport should not mean encouraging unnecessary consumption, nor should public policy reinforce the idea the a perfectly serviceable car is somehow undesirable simply because its age is visible for all to see. – Yours, etc,
CONOR MOONEY
Paris,
France.
