Europcar is lending its support to the newly announced van scrappage deal, which provides SMEs and charities scrapping older vans and minibuses in London with up to £6k towards the cost of switching to more eco-friendly alternatives.
First announced in September and intended to help businesses prepare for the April introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, the £23m scheme is now officially open and available to access online.
Developed to complement the existing grants on electric vans – which reduce the cost by up to 20% or a maximum of £8,000 – the scheme is open to microbusinesses – defined as those with 10 or fewer employees – and registered charities who have vans and minibuses that do not comply with the new ULEZ standards. Businesses and charities will have to be registered in London or have been frequently observed driving in the Congestion Charging Zone.
Under the scheme, eligible operators can receive a payment of £6,000 to scrap a non-compliant van or minibus and help with running costs of a new electric vehicle.
They can also opt for a payment of £3,500 to scrap a non-compliant van or minibus which can be used to purchase a newer ULEZ-compliant Euro 6 vehicle or access third-party offers from rental and sharing services across London, including from Europcar.
Commenting on the scrappage scheme, Stuart Russell, specialist vehicle director, Europcar Mobility Group UK, said: “The ULEZ goes to the heart of the air quality issues facing the capital, and the scrappage scheme is a great initiative from TfL to help firms ensure it does not have a negative impact on their business.
“Whilst the cash sum could be useful to go towards new vehicle acquisition, some businesses may decide to use those funds for other purposes. If they don’t want to face the financial outlay for a new vehicle or commit to a lengthy lease, van rental provides a genuine alternative.
“With one of the youngest van rental fleets in the UK, Europcar is offering businesses participating in the scrappage scheme with a special discount to access vehicles that are fully compliant with the new ULEZ, available from locations in and around the perimeter of the capital.”
The scheme opens just days after the Mayor of London announced plans for a further £25m to support low-income Londoners scrapping older cars, with further details to be announced later this year.
The Mayor is also calling on ministers to fund a national scrappage scheme and is also urging them to match fund the £48m pledged for the London car and vans schemes through the Government’s £220m National Clean Air Fund or Highways England’s £75m air quality fund.
For more details on the van scrappage scheme, click here.
