Figures indicate that fewer than one-third of van owners and less than half of car owners who sought funding from the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) scrappage fund have been approved, according to Transport for London (TfL).
The current claims from individuals discarding non-compliant vehicles total £158 million, prompting London Mayor Sadiq Khan to inject an additional £50 million into the fund.
Nearly 65,000 car and motorbike owners applied for the £2,000 scrappage payment, with 31,577 approvals granted. Among the 50,000 van owners applying, approximately 15,000 were successful.
Seb Dance, deputy mayor for transport, applauds the substantial uptake in the UK's largest scrappage scheme and announces an additional £50 million, bringing the total fund to £210 million. The eligibility criteria were adjusted just a week before the Ulez expansion, allowing everyone to apply.
Critics argue that the rushed Ulez expansion has left many Londoners without the necessary support, particularly impacting small businesses and sole traders facing daily charges while transitioning to cleaner vehicles. In August, grants for electric minibus and van replacements were increased, yet data reveals limited uptake, possibly due to the perceived unaffordability of electric vehicles.