Low Emission Zone Support Fund: EIR release

Information requested

1) what has the take-up of this offer been for each of the 4 cities involved

2) what co-ordination arrangements were in place with the Car Club operators, bike hire operators, bus operators (& CPT Scotland), and suppliers of EAPC to ensure that their provision of vehicles/services was ready for a tranche of new customers, and

3) those applying for the Mobility Credit were aware of the available options on offer

4) what arrangements are in place to monitor and 'coach' those making this change and

5) will this provide material for reporting & developing further strategies?

6) how was this offer promoted - media, dates etc

Response

1) From fund launch on 17 September to 6 April, the following grants have been awarded in each LEZ city:

Location	LEZ Support Fund: households	Travel Better	LEZ Support Fund: business	LEZ Retrofit Fund
Aberdeen	7	0	5	0
	£14,000.00	£0.00	£12,500.00	£0.00
Dundee	12	2	4	0
	£24,000.00	£977.00	£10,000.00	£0.00
Edinburgh	38	12	113	31
	£76,000.00	£5,881.00	£282,500.00	£299,590.40
Glasgow	39	2	122	23
	£78,000.00	£850.00	£305,000.00	£188,336.00
Total	96	16	244	54
	£192,000.00	£7,708.00	£610,000.00	£487,926.40

2)

• Energy Saving Trust works in partnership with various Active Travel Delivery Partners who were all made aware of the scheme and the potential uptake.
• Car club operators were contacted to ensure that the Travel Better scheme was compatible with their systems.
• Applications for the Travel Better scheme are being reviewed constantly to ensure that trends are identified.

3)

• To access an application form, individuals must speak with a Home Energy Scotland advisor who will assess eligibility and explain the scheme criteria and process.
• All applicants are made aware of the Travel Better grant at this stage.
• Advisors explain the full funding offer available and discuss active and shared travel options with customers.
• Energy Saving Trust also promote the offering on the fund webpage, marketing activity and through social media channels.

4)

• As previously noted, individuals who speak with a Home Energy Scotland advisor are provided with advice on the scheme criteria and process
• Advisors are trained to deliver a range of personalised sustainable travel advice to customers
• Alternative ways of travelling following the destruction of the older vehicle will be discussed

5)

• Energy Saving Trust continuously monitor feedback from those who do and those who do not apply.
• Energy Saving Trust will complete an evaluation on the scheme in-line with our work package with Scottish Government.
• The work-plan of activities is reviewed annually, taking on-board learnings from the previous year.

6)

• Please see  ANNEX A

Background:
In September 2020, Energy Saving Trust launched the Low Emission Zone Support Fund funded by Transport Scotland. The fund is available to support lower income households, microbusinesses and sole traders living and operating within a 20km radius of Scotland’s four planned low emission zones – Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The Low Emission Zone Support Fund offers eligible households up to £3000 for the safe disposal of an older, more polluting vehicle that does not meet the proposed Low Emission Zone standards. Eligible businesses can receive up to £2500 grant per vehicle.

For households, the grant is comprised of a £2,000 cash grant for the safe disposal of an older vehicle, plus up to £500 ‘Travel Better’ grant per adult for up to two adults in the household so £3000 maximum. The ‘Travel Better’ grant can be used to purchase a new or refurbished bike, towards the cost of an ebike or adapted cycle, public transport tickets, bike hire membership and credits, and car club membership and credits – up to the value of £500 for each adult.

The ‘Travel Better’ grants can be claimed for up to 12 months following initial award, so in many cases there is a lag time in uptake following disposal of the vehicle, which is evident in the figures below given the relative newness of the funding.

In October 2020, Energy Saving Trust launched further Low Emission Zone support funded by Transport Scotland – the Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund. This fund is available to microbusinesses and sole traders operating within a 20km radius of the four proposed low emission zones. The Retrofit Fund is available to cover up to 80% of the cost of a retrofit solution for an older wheelchair accessible taxi, light commercial vehicle and heavy goods vehicles. Retrofit solutions aim to bring the older vehicles up to the proposed Low Emission Zone standards.

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FOI - 202100180524 - Annex A

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