the HOP association warns of the risk of development of “disposable cars”

Noting an “accelerated and planned obsolescence of thermal and electric cars”, the Stop Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association calls for action to guarantee the durability and repairability of vehicles.

The Stop Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association warns on Wednesday April 17, in a report obtained by France Inter, about the risk of development of “disposable cars” and issues seven recommendations for decision-makers, particularly European ones, to guarantee the durability and repairability of vehicles.

Noting a “accelerated and planned obsolescence of thermal and electric cars”and a phenomenon of “disposable car”the association proposes in particular to integrate into European standards standards of durability and reparability of batteries, availability of essential spare parts and vehicle software for 20 years, or even the introduction of a reparability index for the vehicles.

Repairability and disassembly

In detail, the first recommendation is tointegrate battery durability and repairability standards in Europe”. “HOP recommends an availability period of 15 to 20 years, for batteries and all other spare parts or essential components, consistent with the lifespan of the vehicles”writes the association in its report. “We are asking for the reparability of the batteries themselves, with, for example, the possibility of disassembly and replacement of components such as modules”she also demands.

The second recommendation is to “guarantee the dismantling of vehicles”, while the third is “promote the market for spare parts from the circular economy”. The fourth recommendation is to “propose a repairability index”. “The main advantage of this measure would be to inform the consumer at the time of purchase about the maintenance and repair costs that they will have to assume throughout the life of the vehicle”explains HOP.

The association also recommends extending the legal vehicle warranty and preventing software obsolescence of vehicles. Finally, she calls for “supervise extended producer responsibility sectors to prioritize repair and reuse”.

Stop planned obsolescence is a 1901 law association which fights for the durability of products and against planned obsolescence. Created in 2015, it is an approved national environmental protection association.