VED rip off

[bludclot]

I accept that older vehicles are going to be more polluting than new ones

Not necessarily so. 60% of all vehicle lifetime emissions are during manufacture. 30% are during decommission. Of the remaining 10% there is what comes from the exhaust but also heat pollution, noise pollution, brake pad pollution, used fluids and other repairs and service items / consumables etc.


Also bear in mind that when cold catalytic converters don't really work. And a modern ECU will pretty much forgo any environmental considerations when foot to the floor performance is asked for. Actual fuel energy performance extraction has changed little in recent decades. So all in all it can be argued that it's less environmentally damaging to run an older vehicle rather than buy new, particularly if that older vehicle is cared for carefully and driven considerately.


VED rates (in my opinion) are not set to encourage environmentally friendly travel as opposed to new vehicle purchase. Sadly and as ever, it's all about money, not the environment. Mr. and Mrs. average feel good spending tens of thousands and having 'eco' written on the back and not seeing exhaust smoke. Instead it's already smoked for them at the factory.