The expected £2,000 incentive scheme for drivers who swap old cars for newer models is a motor industry bail out masquerading as a green initiative, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).
Car scrapping initiatives are often labelled green because some subsidise the purchase of fuel-efficient cars, but they routinely fail to take into consideration the amount of energy required to build a vehicle in the first place.
Director at the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), Andrew Davis, said: “Altering the way you drive and keeping a car longer can be a greener option than buying new.”
“Even if the new model you buy is more economical, once you take into account the energy needed to scrap the old car and build an entirely new one the overall benefits are likely to be tiny.”
The ETA recommends that drivers keep a car until it is no longer reliable and follow its green driving tips:
- Avoiding harsh acceleration and braking to save fuel and reduce wear and tear
- Look as far as possible up the road to reduce stop/start driving, thereby reducing fuel consumption and making you a safer driver into the bargain
- Remove unnecessary clutter from your car to reduce weight
- If you don’t regularly use your roof rack or top box, remove it as it reduces the efficiency of your car
