New Cars For Old?

Manufacturing a mid-sized electric vehicle (EV), generates circa 8.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This compares with 5.6 tCO2e for a similar-sized petrol/diesel car. It's battery production, that accounts for 40% of the EV's build-related emissions. Converting an existing petrol/diesel vehicle to electric could, however, save more than 5 tCO2e. The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the savings. So, buses, bin trucks, lorries and vans become prime candidates for conversion. A number of UK companies are now fitting electric motors, batteries and charging points to former petrol/diesel vehicles (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/31/upcycling-a-black-cab-or-bin-lorry-growing-industry-converts-old-vehicles-to-electric). These upgraded products can be markedly cheaper than buying a new EV. They also can save money, by not being liable for London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) charges. There has, however, been some difficulty in getting the replacements re-classified by the UK's Driver and Vehicles Licencing Agency (DVLA), here in Swansea. ULEZ (and other city schemes), depend on information supplied by DVLA. This should be easy to update, as conversions become more common. Conversion of existing vehicles, where possible, to electric, would be a much better way of countering climate change than everyone buying new EVs. The environmental benefits of reduced health-damaging vehicle emissions could be obtained, with markedly lowered 'greenhouse gas' emissions. This is not, of course, likely to appeal to car manufacturers!