New information appear to point out that solely two p.c of polluting vans scrapped beneath the ULEZ scrappage scheme have thus far been switched to electrical autos regardless of Transport for London (TfL) committing over £100 million in funding to companies.
TfL reported that of the 16,207 accredited purposes to scrap a petroleum or diesel van between January 2023 to Could 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 12 months 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 autos to arrange for the enlargement of the ULEZ throughout all London boroughs.
The scheme offers grant funds to scrap, donate or retrofit autos that don’t meet the emissions requirements and change to cleaner modes of transport.
Evaluation printed this week by Transport & Atmosphere, Europe’s main clear transport group, exhibits the variety of vans on UK roads has elevated by over one million since 2014.
The campaigners’ evaluation exhibits carbon emissions from vans within the UK have risen 63 p.c 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 p.c over the identical interval.
The vast majority of new van gross sales are diesel, accounting for 90 p.c of all new van gross sales in 2023.
In distinction diesel automobiles registered on UK roads have fallen by 13 p.c 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 p.c and 88 p.c respectively since 1990 however vans have solely managed a fall of 38 p.c.
Latest polling, commissioned by Clear Cities, has revealed 67 p.c of Londoners consider small companies nonetheless want extra assist to assist them change to electrical autos.
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 defend the setting. Practically half (46%) additionally consider supply autos have a damaging affect 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 business autos in London.
The marketing campaign is looking on Mayor Sadiq Khan to enhance incentives for companies to modify to electrical autos, akin to reviewing and reprioritising the ULEZ scrappage fund and lengthening the Congestion Cost Cleaner Automobile Low cost for SMEs, ride-hailing, and car-sharing companies till late 2027.
The low cost is about to be discontinued on the finish of 2025, which means it’s going to 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 p.c of companies in London have ditched diesel and switched to electrical as a substitute. Londoners rightly count on companies to step up and play their half in cleansing the air and defending the setting however extra assist is required to make cleaner electrical vans a viable choice.
Our polling exhibits a majority of Londoners consider small companies ought to have extra assist to assist them change to electrical autos, so it’s puzzling that the Mayor is about to take away the Congestion Cost low cost subsequent 12 months.
A newly elected Mayor and a brand new authorities affords a singular alternative to double down and ship the regulatory certainty, incentives and infrastructure that companies want in order that electrical vans turn into the norm and never a pleasant to have.”
Ralph Palmer, UK Electrical Automobile 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 developments we’re seeing within the automotive 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 assist 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 nations.”
