London sends hundreds of non-compliant Ulez vehicles to Ukraine

More than 200 vehicles have been sent to Ukraine from London under the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) vehicle scrappage scheme to aid in the country’s war against Russia. Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that 330 vehicles were approved for donation, with more than two-thirds already in Ukraine to support humanitarian and medical efforts. The Ulez scrappage scheme, which started in 2023, offers grants to drivers who scrap non-compliant vehicles to help them purchase Ulez-compliant ones. The idea to donate vehicles to Ukraine was initially rejected by London Mayor Sadiq Khan due to legal concerns but later approved in response to public pressure. The closure of the scheme in September means donations to Ukraine will no longer be eligible for grants. TfL revealed that 96% of vehicles in London now comply with Ulez standards compared to 90.9% in June 2023. Mayor Khan expressed pride in the success of the scrappage scheme and announced plans to provide additional funding for continued donations to Ukraine. The scheme has provided over £186 million in payments to recipients who scrapped non-compliant vehicles, with the majority going to van and minibus owners. The transport secretary confirmed that there were no legal barriers to the scheme. Donors must obtain certificates from the charity British-Ukrainian Aid to donate their vehicles.

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