Batteries included?

Sir, – John Russell (Letters, April 18th) writes about being quoted €19,000 for a replacement battery for his electric car. So, at last, we are seeing the practice of planned obsolescence creating a serious shock to the pockets of the proud owners of electric cars who have paid over the odds to go electric.

In my case, planned obsolescence has had a less shocking effect. The batteries in my three-year-old electric shaver are signalling me that they need replacing.

Having contacted the manufacturer, I was told that the batteries are not replaceable. I will eventually have to ditch my shaver into a recycle bin and buy a new one or, indeed, grow a beard.

How can that be called progress? – Yours, etc,