Apr 25, 2022 | Environment |
Your car has broken down and the cost of repairing it is too high? Then the junkyard could be the place to take it. There are also junkyards that will pick up the car for free and even pay a small amount for it. If you have an exclusive car, such as a BMW or Audi, it may be worth calling a number of scrapyards and asking for a quote. The differences won't be huge, but they can be a few hundred euros less.
In the case of a car to scrap There are a few points to remember. We cover them in this article.
Where can I have my car scrapped?
There are many places where you can have your car scrapped. However, there is one thing you should always keep in mind: it must be an RDW-approved dismantling company, because then you can be sure that your car will be scrapped in the most environmentally friendly way.
Under what conditions can you have your car scrapped?
Firstly, the car is of course your property or you have the explicit permission of the owner to scrap it. Next, you have to find a RDW-approved dismantling company. Then you need the papers and registration codes. The car dismantling company needs these in order to deregister the car. Because of this, the car is no longer registered in your name and in some cases your insurance company will require this indemnification in order to cancel the insurance.
This is how it works in practice
At most junkyards, the process is as described below:
- Contact an RDW-approved dismantling company (a dismantling company in your neighbourhood recognised by the RDW).
- You can find an authorised dismantling company with the RDW location guide.
- Bring your vehicle to the scrapyard. You bring with you: the registration card with the registration code or the paper registration certificate or Have you lost your registration certificate or registration code? Then bring the dismantling code and a valid ID.
- The officer will report your vehicle registration in the vehicle register and give you a certificate of release. This is the proof that the vehicle is no longer on Your name is.
Call your insurance company and stop the insurance. You may need the indemnity certificate for this. The road tax will then stop automatically. If you have paid too much road tax for the current period, it will be refunded automatically.
Lost your license plate?
Without a licence plate, it is not possible to get a licence from an authorised junkyard impossible to scrap a car. At least, they should not confiscate the car. And you shouldn't either, because without a clearance you can't stop the insurance and the road tax will continue. So don't do it! Below are the steps to request a dismantling code:
This is how to request a disassembly code:
- Make sure you have the report code handy. The report code consists of the last 4 digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN). Using the RDW registration number check, you can look up where this number can be found on your vehicle under 'Place chassis number'. An employee at the scrapyard will often know this too.
- Log in via the 'Request dismantling code' button with DigiD, eHerkenning or with a RDW certificate and request the dismantling code free of charge.
- Within a few minutes you will receive an e-mail with a link to the RDW dismantling code.
- Download the disassembly code.
So it is not a lot of work to request a disassembly code. So always do it.
Important: After applying for a dismantling code, the registration certificate is no longer valid and you must have the car scrapped within 4 weeks. So it is not the intention to take the car on the road with a dismantling code. Then you have to apply for a new registration number.
Scrapping a car abroad?
It is not preferable to scrap a Dutch car abroad, but it is possible. It is quicker to export the car. Then you will also receive a clearance of accounts. The RDW does have a separate step-by-step plan for scrapping a car abroad; see the steps below:
This is how you stop the registration in the Netherlands if your car is scrapped abroad Last update 2022
- Go to the form via the 'Submit export' button.
- Complete the form and attach proof that your vehicle has been scrapped. Click 'Submit'.
- They will process the application. Do they need more information from you? Then they will contact you by telephone or e-mail within five working days. Is the application clear? Then you will receive a letter within 5 working days. This letter will state the status of your application and will inform you whether any additional documents are required.
Dec 8, 2021 | Environment |
Science moves on. Where cars used to run only on diesel, petrol or gas, electric cars have now successfully made their appearance. Students at the TU have been experimenting with solar-powered cars for some time. Relatively new is the emergence of driving on hydrogen. You can fill up with hydrogen just as quickly as with a fossil fuel, while only water comes out of the exhaust. Would you like to know what hydrogen is, how it is produced and how a hydrogen car works? Are you curious whether there are enough filling stations to fill up with hydrogen? Read all about it in this article.
What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. Many stars consist of hydrogen. Hydrogen is an odourless, tasteless, colourless but highly flammable gas. It is not poisonous. It is referred to as a chemical element as H1 (Hydrogenium).
It does not exist in pure form on Earth because the molecule binds directly to oxygen, forming water (h2O). This is why hydrogen has to be produced in a different way. This can be done using coal or natural gas, but this method is not sustainable. It releases CO2 (carbon dioxide). Nevertheless, hydrogen is mostly produced this way. It is also called grey hydrogen.
When grey hydrogen is produced but the released CO2 is stored in underground tanks, it is called blue hydrogen. At present blue hydrogen can be produced more cheaply than green hydrogen in most countries (see below). The development of green hydrogen is still in its early stages.
Fortunately, hydrogen can be produced in a more sustainable way by means of electrolysis. No CO2 is released. However, electricity is needed for this method. When this electricity is generated entirely from solar or wind energy, it is called green hydrogen.
Since hydrogen is the most common element and since its combustion releases water, a shortage of hydrogen is highly unlikely. That is a pleasant thought and guarantees energy security for all of us and for our descendants in the future.
Hydrogen, is it safe?
The use of hydrogen is no more dangerous or safer than the use of other fuels. The use of energy always involves some risk. However, the properties of hydrogen differ greatly from those of other fossil fuels. These rather different properties (such as high pressure) must be learned to deal with.
Hydrogen is not toxic. In the unlikely event that it is inhaled, there is no danger. Because hydrogen is odourless, colourless and tasteless, it cannot be detected by humans.
In industry, hydrogen has been used safely for decades. Hydrogen is a safe energy carrier.
The main safety risks of hydrogen are related to its volatility, low ignition energy and high pressure.
Hydrogen is explosive in enclosed spaces where both oxygen and an ignition source are present.
Although the volatility of hydrogen may cause leaks from storage tanks, pipes or pressure vessels, in the event of a fire or other calamity, it can be drained quickly. This is because hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air.
If manufacturers make good material choices in accordance with calibrated standards, leakage or ignition in hydrogen installations can be prevented.
Therefore, smoking and other ignition-causing activities are not allowed in hydrogen installations and, of course, there are strict fire safety regulations. At hydrogen filling stations, external influences such as collisions are prevented by concrete constructions. Did you know that hydrogen tanks in vehicles are subject to bullet and shell tests?
Driving on hydrogen
Since only pure water is released as a residue, hydrogen is a very promising option for mobility. There are already buses and cars running on hydrogen. Driving on hydrogen offers great advantages. There is no air pollution and hydrogen cars produce virtually no noise.
Furthermore, the long range (600 kilometres or more) and fast refuelling time are a big plus in comparison with electric cars, where the charging time is at least 30 minutes and the range is up to 400 kilometres.
Hydrogen cars are relatively expensive to buy.
The degradation of a Lithium-ion battery is bad for the environment.
Recycling a hydrogen car has only a minor impact on the environment because they only have a very small battery. This is in contrast to electric cars.
If you buy a hydrogen car for yourself, you will not have to pay any motor vehicle tax. If you are a business driver, then in 2020 you will only have to pay 8% of additional tax. Entrepreneurs could count on no less than 36% environmental investment deduction in 2020.
Hydrogen filling stations Netherlands
There are currently nine operational hydrogen filling stations in the Netherlands. This is not so surprising in view of the still small market share of vehicles running on hydrogen and the exorbitant operating costs. The construction of a small hydrogen filling station easily amounts to some one million euros.
The number of hydrogen filling stations in the Netherlands and Belgium is expected to at least double in the next few years. Subsidies for some 20 new hydrogen filling stations have already been granted by Europe.
Germany has some 87 hydrogen filling stations.
Here is an overview of the current hydrogen filling stations
| Location |
Address |
Filling pressure |
Operator |
| Amsterdam |
Australia Harbour Road 116 |
700 bar |
Orange Gas |
| Amsterdam |
Galwin 6 |
700 bar |
Shell |
| The Hague |
Binckhorstlaan 100 |
350 / 700 bar |
Kerkhof & zn. |
| Nieuwegein |
Morsebaan 1 |
350 / 700 bar |
Hysolar |
| Hoofddorp |
A4 motorway |
700 bar |
Shell |
| Rhoon |
Green Cross Road 397 |
350 / 700 bar |
Holthausen |
| Groningen |
Bornholmstraat 35 |
350 / 700 bar |
Orange Gas |
| Arnhem |
Westervoortsedijk 71 |
350 / 700 bar |
Total Energies |
| Pesse |
Bultinge 2 |
350 / 700 bar |
Green Planet |
Three operational hydrogen filling stations are also available in Belgium.
| Location |
Address |
Filling pressure |
Operator |
| Antwerp |
Mexico Street 11 |
350 / 700 bar |
CMB Tech |
| Halle |
Zinc Street 1 |
700 bar |
DATS 24 |
| Zaventem |
Leuvensesteenweg 546 |
350 / 700 bar |
Air Liquide |
How much does it cost to fill up with hydrogen?
As is the case with ordinary filling stations, the price of a kilo of hydrogen varies from one hydrogen filling station to another. The average price for a kilo of hydrogen is currently around € 11. Converted into kilometres, the price of hydrogen lies somewhere between the prices of diesel and petrol. With one kilo of hydrogen the range is just over 100 kilometres. Many hydrogen cars have a tank capacity of at least five kilos.
Feb 5, 2020 | Environment |
Would you use recycled or second-hand parts for your car? Online auction platform eBay thinks so. This will save our planet. And used parts will be cheaper and save us money too. But what are the risks? We explore it in this article.
What exactly does eBay mean by used car parts
When most people think of recycled parts, they imagine parts from scrap yards, from cars that have been in collisions, for example. But this is not what eBay is talking about; they mean parts that have been reconditioned.
A reconditioned part has failed or has come to the end of its natural service life. But instead of throwing them away, garages send them to experts who strip them. Worn parts are then replaced with new ones. This overhaul creates less waste and is therefore better for the environment than a new part.
This is common practice in countries like France and Germany. Parts are thoroughly checked when they are rebuilt and are sold with a guarantee.
Parts that can undergo this process are engines, gearboxes, links, calipers and radiators.
Why should you use remanufactured parts?
The answer is simple: it is much kinder to the environment!
Ebay believes that if car owners in the Netherlands used just 10 per cent more recycled car parts, this would prevent 390,000 vehicle parts from going into landfill each year. This would save 190,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions that come from making entirely new parts.
By buying used components, car owners would save owners around 60 per cent / per part. Ebay's calls follow EU legislation passed earlier this year requiring a more 'circular economy'. This is a step away from our current economic model.
Manufacturers must make parts accessible to professional repairers who can repair car parts instead of throwing them away. Currently, regulations require the automotive industry to recycle, salvage or repair 95 per cent of every car at the end of its life.
But are these parts safe?
There are strict regulations for the recycling of used parts. This allows us to buy something that is safe, better for the environment and saves a lot of money. And while there are many components that can be remanufactured and recycled, unsafe components are actually destroyed.
We warn that not all parts are suitable for reuse.
"While responsible reuse and recycling of vehicle components is important, safety is the top priority and not all components, such as seatbelts and airbags, are suitable for reuse. "
There are also official brands operating in the recycling industry
If you have a car of the Peugeot brand, Lemon or DS, or you have a Fiat, Chrysler or Jeep, chances are you can already buy remanufactured parts (especially active in the UK). Both companies have official recycling programmes for parts such as clutches, particulate filters, radiators, turbos and brake calipers. They sell these components for around 40 per cent less than new parts and they come with an official 12-month warranty!
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