New knowledge appear to point out that solely two % of polluting vans scrapped underneath the ULEZ scrappage scheme have up to now been switched to electrical automobiles regardless of Transport for London (TfL) committing over £100 million in funding to companies.
TfL reported that of the 16,207 authorised purposes to scrap a petroleum or diesel van between January 2023 to Might 2024, solely 372 have been changed with an electrical automobile.
The figures have been revealed in new evaluation from marketing campaign group Clear Cities on 26 June, and through London Local weather Motion Week as Defra was forecasting the primary summer time smog of the yr in London and southeast England.
In 2023, the Mayor of London launched a ULEZ scrappage scheme to supply monetary help to assist Londoners and companies scrap the best polluting automobiles to organize for the growth of the ULEZ throughout all London boroughs.
The scheme gives grant funds to scrap, donate or retrofit automobiles that don’t meet the emissions requirements and swap to cleaner modes of transport.
Evaluation printed this week by Transport & Atmosphere, Europe’s main clear transport group, reveals the variety of vans on UK roads has elevated by over one million since 2014.
The campaigners’ evaluation reveals carbon emissions from vans within the UK have risen 63 % since 1990, threatening local weather targets regardless of the rising push for electrical automobile (EV) adoption. Carbon emissions from personal automobiles and taxis have decreased by 19 % over the identical interval.
The vast majority of new van gross sales are diesel, accounting for 90 % of all new van gross sales in 2023.
In distinction diesel automobiles registered on UK roads have fallen by 13 % between the top of 2018 and the top of 2023 however diesel vans rose about 13 in that very same interval
That is mirrored in dangerous nitrous oxide emission ranges within the UK. With emissions from HGVs and automobiles falling by 91 % and 88 % respectively since 1990 however vans have solely managed a fall of 38 %.
Current polling, commissioned by Clear Cities, has revealed 67 % of Londoners imagine small companies nonetheless want extra help to assist them swap to electrical automobiles.
The survey of 4,000 UK adults additionally finds that three-in-five (59%) Londoners need their councils to take stronger motion in opposition to air air pollution and shield the atmosphere. Almost half (46%) additionally imagine supply automobiles have a unfavorable impression on their native roads.
Campaigning for coverage change, Clear Cities is launching Clear Cargo Capital, a marketing campaign centered on accelerating the uptake of electrical or pedal powered industrial automobiles in London.
The marketing campaign is asking on Mayor Sadiq Khan to enhance incentives for companies to change to electrical automobiles, similar to reviewing and reprioritising the ULEZ scrappage fund and increasing the Congestion Cost Cleaner Car Low cost for SMEs, ride-hailing, and car-sharing providers till late 2027.
The low cost is about to be discontinued on the finish of 2025, which means it would value companies the identical to drive a diesel or electrical automobile in central London, regardless of electrical van gross sales lagging and diesel being one of many largest contributors to air air pollution on this space.
Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clear Cities, stated, “The Mayor’s van scrappage scheme is a number one endeavour however one thing isn’t proper if solely two % of companies in London have ditched diesel and switched to electrical as an alternative. Londoners rightly count on companies to step up and play their half in cleansing the air and defending the atmosphere however extra help is required to make cleaner electrical vans a viable possibility.
Our polling reveals a majority of Londoners imagine small companies ought to have extra help to assist them swap to electrical automobiles, so it’s puzzling that the Mayor is about to take away the Congestion Cost low cost subsequent yr.
A newly elected Mayor and a brand new authorities gives a singular alternative to double down and ship the regulatory certainty, incentives and infrastructure that companies want in order that electrical vans develop into the norm and never a pleasant to have.”
Ralph Palmer, UK Electrical Car and Fleets Officer at Transport and Atmosphere, stated: “The continued rise in van emissions within the UK is alarming. Regardless of the push for extra electrical vans on our roads, we’re nonetheless witnessing a surge in greenhouse gasoline emissions from vans on account of sustained gross sales of diesel vans, countering traits we’re seeing within the automobile market.
It’s clear that extra motion is required to spice up electrical van demand amongst fleets to make sure we obtain the triple-win of tackling emissions, decreasing working prices for small companies and boosting power safety. The brand new Authorities ought to convey ahead plans for stronger monetary help and motion to enhance the nation’s charging infrastructure for van drivers to make sure the UK doesn’t proceed to fall behind different European international locations.”
