Mayor’s £100 million ULEZ scrappage scheme fails to fuel electric van surge
June 26, 2024
Only two percent of polluting vans scrapped under the ULEZ scrappage scheme have so far been switched to electric vehicles.
- Only 372 scrapped vans were switched to an electric alternative under TfL’s £100m scrappage scheme – just 2 percent of the total
- New polling shows 67 percent of Londoners believe small businesses should have more support to help them switch to electric vehicles
- A million more diesel vans are being driven on UK roads than ten years ago, worsening air pollution
New data has revealed only two percent of polluting vans scrapped under the ULEZ scrappage scheme have so far been switched to electric vehicles despite Transport for London (TfL) committing over £100 million in funding to businesses.
TfL reported that of the 16,579 approved applications to scrap a petrol or diesel van between January 2023 to May 2024, only 372 were replaced with an electric vehicle.
The figures are revealed in new analysis from campaigners Clean Cities today, and come during London Climate Action Week as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is forecasting the first summer smog of the year in London and southeast England.
In 2023, the Mayor of London launched a ULEZ scrappage scheme to provide financial assistance to help Londoners and businesses scrap the highest polluting vehicles to prepare for the expansion of the ULEZ across all London boroughs.
The scheme provides grant payments to scrap, donate or retrofit vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards and switch to cleaner modes of transport.
Analysis published this week by Transport & Environment, Europe’s leading clean transport group, shows the number of vans on UK roads has increased by over a million since 2014.
The campaigners’ analysis shows carbon emissions from vans in the UK have risen 63 percent since 1990, threatening climate targets despite the growing push for electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Carbon emissions from private cars and taxis have decreased by 19 percent over the same period.
The majority of new van sales are diesel, accounting for 90 percent of all new van sales in 2023.
In contrast diesel cars registered on UK roads have fallen by 13 percent between the end of 2018 and the end of 2023 but diesel vans rose about 13 in that same period
This is reflected in harmful nitrous oxide emission levels in the UK. With emissions from HGVs and cars falling by 91 percent and 88 percent respectively since 1990 but vans have only managed a fall of 38 percent.
Recent polling, commissioned by Clean Cities, has revealed 67 percent of Londoners believe small businesses still need more support to help them switch to electric vehicles.
The survey of 4,000 UK adults also finds that three-in-five (59%) Londoners want their councils to take stronger action against air pollution and protect the environment. Nearly half (46%) also believe delivery vehicles have a negative impact on their local roads.
Campaigning for policy change, Clean Cities is launching Clean Cargo Capital, a campaign focused on accelerating the uptake of electric or pedal powered commercial vehicles in London
The campaign is calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan to improve incentives for businesses to switch to electric vehicles, such as reviewing and reprioritising the ULEZ scrappage fund and extending the Congestion Charge Cleaner Vehicle Discount for SMEs, ride-hailing, and car-sharing services until late 2027.
The discount is set to be discontinued at the end of 2025, meaning it will cost businesses the same to drive a diesel or electric vehicle in central London, despite electric van sales lagging and diesel being one of the largest contributors to air pollution in this area.
“The Mayor’s van scrappage scheme is a leading endeavour but something isn’t right if only two percent of businesses in London have ditched diesel and switched to electric instead. Londoners rightly expect businesses to step up and play their part in cleaning the air and protecting the environment but more support is needed to make cleaner electric vans a viable option.
Our polling shows a majority of Londoners believe small businesses should have more support to help them switch to electric vehicles, so it’s puzzling that the Mayor is set to remove the Congestion Charge discount next year.
A newly elected Mayor and a new government offers a unique opportunity to double down and deliver the regulatory certainty, incentives and infrastructure that businesses need so that electric vans become the norm and not a nice to have.”
Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities Campaign
“The continued rise in van emissions in the UK is alarming. Despite the push for more electric vans on our roads, we are still witnessing a surge in greenhouse gas emissions from vans as a result of sustained sales of diesel vans, countering trends we are seeing in the car market.
It’s clear that more action is needed to boost electric van demand among fleets to ensure we achieve the triple-win of tackling emissions, reducing running costs for small businesses and boosting energy security. The new Government should bring forward plans for stronger financial support and action to improve the nation’s charging infrastructure for van drivers to ensure the UK doesn’t continue to fall behind other European countries.”
Ralph Palmer, UK Electric Vehicle and Fleets Officer at Transport & Environment
Notes to editors:
Transport & Environment analysed Department for Transport data reported quarterly from 1990 to 2023. Full analysis can be viewed here: https://www.transportenvironment.org/te-united-kingdom/articles/the-white-van-can-decarbonise
Clean Cities’ polling fieldwork was undertaken between 31st May and 4th June 2024 of 4,000 UK adults by Yonder. For full data tables contact emily@higginsonstrategy.com
TFL published data ULEZ scrappage scheme data from 30 January 2023 to 26 May 2024 here: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/scrappage-scheme-factsheet-may2024.pdf
The ULEZ van and minibus scrappage scheme is for eligible sole traders, micro businesses, or charities with a registered address in London, to scrap, donate or retrofit a van or minibus that does not meet the ULEZ emissions standard. Depending on the type of application, grant payments range from £6,000 – £11,500. From 31 July 2023, the eligibility criteria were widened to allow small businesses to apply for the scheme. And from 04 August 2023, the range of grant payments were increased from £5,000 – £9,500, to £6,000 – £11,500. Small businesses, micro businesses and sole traders can apply to scrap, donate, or retrofit up to 3 vans or minibuses in total. Charities can apply to scrap, donate, or retrofit up to 3 vans or minibuses, even if they received a grant under the previous scheme. For more information on the scheme view here. ULEZ van and minibus scrappage scheme – Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)
The Mayor of London’s preferred net zero pathway requires 34% of all van kilometres driven in London to be electric by 2030.
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