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Your letters: Deal with owners of old cars
This refers to âBuy the low-cost car and get to work faster [huh?],â The Jakarta Post, Oct
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his refers to 'Buy the low-cost car and get to work faster [huh?],' The Jakarta Post, Oct. 20.
What people don't realize is that there is a large used-car market already. You can buy a relatively cheap car and fill it up with subsidized fuel.
The problem is that most of these older used cars are heavy polluters. For example, you can buy a 2005 car for around Rp 45 million (US$3,994). It will be carbureted, have air-conditioning and no emissions equipment.
There is no catalytic converter to remove pollution and nothing to make sure the engine runs efficiently.
It's not a bad idea to have these 'green' cars. They aren't really green, but they are a good replacement for other cars that would be used on the streets instead.
Perhaps a better way forward is to broker deals with those who have old cars. Have them turn in their old cars and give them credit toward a new 'green' car that is more efficient. It would remove older cars and those without emission equipment.
I don't think this will add more cars to the streets like many assume will happen.
This situation will happen due to a better economical outlook meaning people will be able to afford cheaper (used) cars. But I could be wrong.
Ben Dobbs
Jakarta
