More Fleets Can Now Apply For London’s ULEZ Scrappage Scheme
Following the announcement of the ULEZ expansion going ahead in August, it’s been announced that the scrappage scheme is being extended…
And it means even more fleets can now apply.
The £110 million scrappage scheme is being opened to businesses registered in London with fewer than 50 employees from the end of July.
It follows the extended period (which is still ongoing) where charities, sole traders and any businesses registered in London with 10 or fewer employees can apply.
What Does The Scrappage Scheme Offer?
For many fleets and businesses, the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) will mean that some of their vehicles will incur charges.
The ULEZ replaces the current LEZ zone, with the charges for the ULEZ being expanded to a wider area.
London is under pressure to reduce emissions and meet environmental targets, and even though nearly half of Londoners don’t own cars, pollution is still a significant issue.
The current iteration of the ULEZ in London is 18 times larger than the original central London ULEZ, and recent figures estimate that it will cost fleets an extra £54 million in additional charges in the first year of operation alone.
Which is why the scrappage scheme is offering fleets the chance to swap old petrol and diesel vehicles for ones that will be compliant with the new low emission zone.
Drivers of vehicles that don’t meet the emission standards of the ULEZ must pay £12.50 to enter the zone – which could land fleets with a pretty hefty bill.
All of which means that fleets will be apply to apply to:
- Scrap a van with a £5,000 grant
- Scrap a minibus with a £7,000 grant
- Retrofit some vans or minibuses with a £5,000 grant
- Scrap and replace a van with a fully electric vehicle with a £7,500 grant
- Scrap and replace a minibus with a fully electric vehicle with a £9,500 grant
The Impact Of Low Emission Zones
You’re probably well aware that low emission zones are popping up all over the UK.
And with London expanding to current low emission zone to the ULEZ, the costs could become prohibitive to some fleets…
Which is why schemes like the scrappage scheme in London could be crucial.
The pressure to reduce emissions and traffic density has several purposes. Firstly, cleaner air has a positive impact on the health of people living within those areas.
But it’s also because the lower traffic density should lead to fewer accidents on the road and improve road safety, as well as improving emissions and meeting environmental targets.
With Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, and several other UK cities pressing ahead with clean air zones, fleet owners need to be aware that having low-polluting or electric vehicles will be a significant advantage…
Particularly when it comes to running costs!
Are you prepared for the ULEZ expansion or other new clean air zones? Could you take advantage of the scrappage scheme? And is it time to make the switch to EVs? Let us know in the comments below…
