Managing the ULEZ Expansion as a Van Driver

London’s ULEZ scheme has done immeasurable good to the air quality in the capital city and now it is expanding even further to cover all 33 boroughs of London. However, this expansion has a direct impact on van drivers who operate within the city, and now they will have to adapt their strategies and find sustainable solutions to navigate the changing ULEZ zone.

This article is here to help with managing the ULEZ expansion as a van driver. We will discuss what the ULEZ expansion entails, how van drivers can avoid the ULEZ charge, highlight electric van models that are well-suited for city driving, and provide insights on how to responsibly dispose of old vans.

What Is the ULEZ Expansion?

Since the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was introduced to London in 2020 to tackle carbon emissions, it has expanded the area in which certain vans are not allowed to travel through. Only compliant vehicles can travel in the ULEZ that meet Euro emissions standards (Euro 4 for petrol/petrol hybrid cars, or Euro 6 for diesel/diesel hybrid cars), which you can check for your van in your vehicle handbook or on TfL’s online vehicle checker.

The August 2023 ULEZ expansion will stretch all the way from Enfield to Coulsdon one way, and Havering to Heathrow Airport the other way.

Another key change to the ULEZ is the slight increase in the charge for breaching the zone in a non-compliant. Entering the ULEZ could cost you £12.50 per day, which is on top of Central London’s existing Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) penalty of £15 per day.

How Can Van Drivers Avoid London’s ULEZ Charge?

Driving an electric van is the best solution for navigating the new ULEZ expansion while still being able to utilise the full practicality of a van. They produce zero carbon emissions while running and thus are exempt from the charge. On top of dealing with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, electric vans have ultra-low running costs thanks to their power source being electricity rather than fossil fuels.

This is at little expense to your payload, as the heavier the payload, the more range you have. But with over 13,000 charging points available in Greater London, you will never have to suffer from range anxiety anyway. Using an electric van in London is the perfect combination, and getting an electric van lease is the ultimate way of getting the best years of a van’s life without being saddled with its less reliable later years. For more information on electric van leasing, take a look at our guide today.

What Electric Van Models Are Great for the City?

An electric van for London’s urban sprawl requires enough manoeuvrability to weave through narrow streets, and have more than a few tricks up its sleeve to be able to haul cargo in and out of it in these streets, too.

With this in mind, one fantastic recommendation for a city-going van is the electric version of the Fiat Ducato. The Fiat E-Ducato is a fleet-footed Italian hauler that oozes style, and every version comes with an uber-fast-charging 50kW battery that can add up to 62 miles of range in as little as 30 minutes.

Elsewhere, the Citroen e-Dispatch is an excellent light commercial vehicle that comes with the original Dispatch’s incredible safety features and has the potential to go over 200 miles on a single charge. Finally, the Mercedes eSprinter was named one of the top vans of 2022 and is the ultimate option for anyone looking for an electric alternative to a large van, especially since it has a cargo volume of 11 cubic metres.

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How Can I Get Rid of My Old Van?

To help transition from a gas-guzzler to an electric van, the UK government has launched a scrappage scheme that allows you to affordably and cleanly dispose of your old van. With it, you can be given a grant payment to scrap any vehicle that does not meet emissions standards, making a new electric van lease an even sweeter prospect.

To find more information about the government scrappage scheme, read more on the TFL website here.

If you’re looking for a ULEZ electric van to beat the Ultra-Low Emission Zone charge, cars2buy is the UK’s favourite site for finding the best electric van leases. This is the perfect way to use a brand-new van without the massive lump sum payment or expenses of owning a van in its later years. With our transparent service, you won’t have to spend time trawling through hundreds of lease sites. We’ve already searched far and wide for trusted electric van lease deals available in the UK for you, so you can compare them all in one place. Browse our collection of ULEZ-beating van leases online today and you could be driving in London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone before you know it.