Green Party plans to ban all older vehicles

August 02, 2019
eu stars
IRL UK

Older cars are a big culprit in air pollution according to Greens

The Green Party wants a ban imposed on all older vehicles so as to improve air quality.

Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe said that these older cars should be banned in Ireland and then air quality monitoring could be improved. 

The Greens met with representatives today from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to discuss recent findings that Dublin's air quality breached EU limits for nitrogen dioxide?

Nitrogen dioxide, especially in higher doses can impact on public health, especially those in the population with respiratory illnesses such as asthma, or children and older people who are most vulnerable. The MEP went on to say:

"We do need to take action to limit the older, dirtier vehicles," 
 
"And they might be trucks, they might be buses, they might be diesel cars. They might even be petrol cars."
 
"I think if it's over 10 or 15 or 20 years old...I think we should be looking at clean air zones, particularly in the densely populates areas in the centre of our towns and city."

For example, figures for 2018 here in Ireland showed that new-car emissions (CO2) averaged 113 grammes per kilometre (113g/km).

In contrast to the new car figures, used-car import figures purport to show an average of 121 grammes per kilometre (121g/km) or eight grammes per kilometre more for every kilometre driven.

Last year almost 30,000 used cars were imported which were over six years old with an average CO2 of 140 grammes per kilometre (140g/km).

It would seem, then, from a Green point of view, there should be a ban on all imports that are not Euro 6 compliant. That would implicate most cars that were first registered on, or before, 2014.

Author

Justin Kavanagh
Justin Kavanagh is a recognised leader in automotive intelligence and vehicle data supply to the entire motor industry. He has almost 20 years experience in building systems from the ground up. As the Managing Director of Vehicle Management System, he understands the need and importance of trustworthy and reliable vehicle history and advice to both the trade and the public.
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