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Are diesels set for the scrapheap?

Date: 24 February 2017   |   Author: Daniel Puddicombe

Experts have claimed that plans for a new countrywide diesel scrappage scheme could deliver significant reductions to the UK's pollution levels.

Proposed by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, low-income families would receive £2,000 to encourage the scrapping of up to 130,000 diesel cars, while he has also suggested payments of £3,500 to encourage the removal of 70,000 polluting vans and minibuses from Britain's roads.

Up to 10,000 London taxi drivers could also receive £1,000 to scrap their black cabs in addition to Transport for London incentives to help owners to upgrade to newer vehicles.

These suggestions follow on from the mayor's manifesto in which he said he would put forward a proposal to the Government for a national scrappage scheme, and is the latest plan, alongside his ultra-low emission zone in central London, and a 'T-Charge' - where the most polluting vehicles are charged £10 a day to drive into the capital - to rid London of toxic gasses.

According to the mayor, relevant ministers, including chancellor Philip Hammond, have been sent the proposals, and a spokesperson for the mayor's office told BusinessCar they are making a "forceful case" for the scheme to be rolled out as soon as possible for the good of the nation's health.

"The ball's in their court now. If they are interested, we'll hold some meetings and crunch a few numbers," they added.

Khan said: "The toxic state of our air leaves us with no choice but to rid our city of the most polluting diesel vehicles. It is shocking that nearly half of new car sales in the UK are still diesel vehicles and the national system of Vehicle Excise Duty still incentivises motorists to buy these polluting cars."

Under Khan's plan, the scheme would last for two years, with an estimated £515m of money for scrapping going to drivers in London, while the mayor claimed such a scheme would also help the UK comply with European pollution levels.

A national diesel scrappage fund is the most cost-effective way to deliver significant emission reductions while reducing the economic impact on those most affected, such as small businesses, charities and low-income households.

"For years the Government has incentivised and encouraged people to purchase diesel cars. It is only fair that they now help people to switch to cleaner alternatives. The Government needs to help us clean up the dangerous air in London."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the Government is "fully committed" to improving air quality.

"That's why we have committed more than £2bn since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emissions vehicles, support greener transport schemes, and set out how we will improve air quality through a new programme of Clean Air Zones. In addition, in the Autumn Statement, we announced a further £290m to support electric vehicles, low-emission buses and taxis, and alternative fuels," he said.

According to Andrew Benfield, group director of transport at the Energy Saving Trust, the scrapping of diesels could encourage motorists to switch to EVs: "Vehicle emissions are a significant contributor to poor air quality in our cities and London has significant challenges ahead in reducing this kind of pollution.

"If public transport, walking or cycling isn't an option, electric cars make ideal vehicles for transport in the city. With no emissions, significantly lower running costs and exemption from the congestion charge, swapping your diesel - or petrol - vehicle for an EV is making more sense every day," he said.

Gerry Keaney, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, welcomed the proposal, saying it could "make a significant contribution" to reducing emissions in the UK.

"Given the challenges that our cities face, any such scheme must go further than simply encouraging replacement cleaner vehicles. It must also encourage a more efficient use of them and greater uptake of sustainable modes of transport."

Mike Hawes, chief executive at the The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, supported the suggestions, but said such a scheme would need to be effectively managed: "While the SMMT supports a scrappage scheme in principle, any scheme would have to deliver value for money for the public and must therefore be developed carefully."

Khan's proposals follow on from a scrappage scheme that ran for a year in 2009/10 to encourage new car sales. It resulted in the scrapping of 392,000 cars that were more than 10 years old in return for £2,000 off the cost of a new car.



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