TfL confirms congestion charge for electric vehicles
Transport for London has confirmed that electric vehicles will be subject to the congestion charge from next year.
It has announced that the congestion charge will rise from £15 to £18 from 2 January, while the 100% exemption for electric vehicles will be cut to 50% for electric vans and lorries and 25% for electric cars
Discounts will be cut again from March 2030, to 25% for electric vans and lorries and 12.5% for electric cars.
The discounts will only be eligible to drivers who sign up to Transport for London’s AutoPay system, which automatically deducts the charge from their bank account.
The discount will be further reduced to 25 per cent for electric vans and lorries, and 12.5 per cent for electric cars, from March 2030.
Careful balance
Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of strategy, said: “If we want to ensure that London remains a thriving city for everyone to enjoy, then it’s vital that traffic and congestion is kept under control and managed effectively.
“The changes to the congestion charging scheme play a key role in allowing us to do that, while striking a careful balance that enables drivers, businesses and other organisations to continue transitioning to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable forms of transport.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, added: “Keeping London moving by reducing congestion is vital for our city and for our economy. While the congestion charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose, and sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year.
“We must support Londoners and businesses to use more sustainable travel, so I’m pleased that substantial incentives will remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles, as we work to build a greener and better London for everyone.”
