London, UK: It has taken just two months for the heavy vehicle scrappage scheme, introduced in September, to help London businesses upgrade to meet new emission standards next year, to run out of money.
Denise Beedall, policy manager vans and urban, Logistics UK, said the high demand demonstrates “the real determination from logistics businesses to transition to cleaner vehicles and upgrade their fleets in time.”
“We hope that government will support Transport for London with additional funding to extend the scheme or consider alternative options to help those due to be hit hardest by the air quality scheme, including businesses based within the London-wide Low Emission Zone area and operators of specialist vehicles.”
London’s van scrappage allowed van drivers in London to trade pre-Euro 6 vehicles for low emission zone compliant models with payments of up to £7,000 to scrap vehicles.
The scheme, now ended , was launched by Transport for London in February 2019 and allowed van drivers to trade in their pre-Euro 6 diesel commercial vehicles, typically those made before 2015, for a Euro 6 compliant alternative.
From 26 October 2021, the ultra low emission zone which is in force 24 hours a day, seven days a week – will expand to cover all areas of London inside the north and south circular roads.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan recently announced a new scrappage scheme for heavy vehicles, which will offer up to £15,000 per scrapped vehicle. More than 100 businesses have already registered their interest in the scheme.
