There have been calls for SUVs to be taxed “out of existence” for the sake of the planet.

Over the weekend Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the Government was considering whether to increase VRT on them because of their high emissions:

“One of the things we do want to achieve is [to] promote more energy efficient vehicles, to reduce the amount of imported fuel - because that is a big security risk for us,” he told On The Record with Gavan Reilly. 

“I think over half of new cars being bought are SUVs… It does make sense for us to send a signal that we want to switch to lighter, cheaper and more fuel efficient cars. 

“Now, nothing is decided in the budget - we haven't even really started that process.”

Can’t be said often or loud enough:

Tax SUV’s out of existence.

— Aidan Regan (@Aidan_Regan) April 3, 2022

One person who agrees with Minister Ryan is Aidan Regan, Assistant Professor in Political Economy at UCD.

“We’re going to have to do it if we’re remotely serious about reaching our climate targets and getting to Net Zero by 2050,” Aidan Regan, Assistant Professor in Political Economy, told The Hard Shoulder. 

“SUVs are the second biggest driver of climate change, they emit a quarter more CO2 than a medium size, they are a major contributor to what is happening. 

“So we have to reduce them somehow and I think obviously you can look at France, you can look at Norway, many countries have begun to use their tax and regulatory systems to reduce their role on the roads.” 

Electric future?

Last year there were 55,000 new SUVs sold in Ireland, compared with only 8,000 new electric cars. 

For many couples with large families or those who need to tow things for work, they are an essential tool for modern life and Brian Cooke, Director General for the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, believes the state should not try and penalise them:

“The tax system in Ireland is very heavy on cars,” he said. 

“And it’s increasing in every budget as well - not just the purchase but also the use of cars. 

“I think you have to look at why people buy cars; obviously one of them is the cost of the car but they buy cars that fit their driving. 

“So it’s not one size fits all. It may depend on the size of your family, it may depend on what sport you play, whether you’re a member of a GAA club.” 

Jeep SUVs are seen on a car sales lot in July 2019. Picture by: Radharc Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Instead, Mr Cooke says the state should keep in place incentives for people to buy electric cars - something that would speed the transition from fossil fuels to an electric future: 

“I think from the emissions perspective, I think we are already on the road to the electrification of the Irish fleet if you count both electrics and plugins - there are 10,000 of those on the roads in the first quarter of the year,” he explained. 

“And by the end of the decade, the vast majority of cars will be those that are electric vehicles.”

Main image: Toyota Rav4 SUV are seen at a car dealership in San Jose, California, United States. Picture by Yichuan Cao/Sipa USA.