February 5, 2020
Abby Nuttall
Articles
London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans to double the valve of payments in his van scrappage scheme.
The scheme is designed to help businesses make the switch to electric vehicles before the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the north and south circular next year.
Payments offered to businesses scrapping their old vans will double from £3,500 to £7,000 and for those who are switching to electric the payment has increased to £9,500 to help with the purchasing and running costs of the new vehicle.
Previously only what were termed micro businesses, those with under 10 employees, were eligible for the scheme but this has now been expanded to include all small businesses, with under 50 employees.
The number of trips that drivers make into the ULEZ to qualify for the grant has also reduced from 52 trips in the last six months to a minimum of 26 trips.
As well as expanding the existing scheme the Mayor is taking action to help small businesses with heavy vehicles, which includes hgvs, coaches and buses that are not part of the Transport For London’s (TFL) network. The plans are still being finalised, but it is expected that a payment of £15,000 will be offered for each vehicle, with a maximum of three vehicles per business.
Alongside the expansion of the van scrappage scheme the Mayor has announced a further investment of £1.75million into the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) to provide funding for six more business led low emission neighbourhoods. One of which is the instillation of the UK’s first ultra-first electric vehicle charging depots, in partnership with EON.
For more information on the scheme and whether you could be eligible please visit the TFL’s website here.