Home / Business and Economy / London Congestion Charge Hike Hits Electric Vehicle Owners
London Congestion Charge Hike Hits Electric Vehicle Owners
14 Aug
Summary
- Electric vehicles to lose exemption from London's Congestion Charge
- Charge to increase from £15 to £18 just a week after exemption ends
- Move expected to generate up to £455 million for Transport for London over 5 years
In a major blow to electric vehicle owners in London, the city's Congestion Charge is set to undergo a significant overhaul. Starting on Christmas Day 2025, electric vehicles will no longer be exempt from the daily charge, which will then increase from £15 to £18 just a week later.
This double-whammy is expected to generate an additional £80 million to £91 million annually for Transport for London (TfL), amounting to a staggering total of up to £455 million over the next five years. The move marks a significant hit to the financial benefits of operating an electric vehicle in the capital, following the abolition of free parking in certain boroughs and the removal of the luxury car tax exemption.
The decision to remove the Congestion Charge exemption for electric vehicles has been met with concern from industry experts. Tom Jervis, consumer editor at Auto Express, expressed his worries, stating that "while we recognize the importance of funding clean air initiatives and reducing congestion in London, it's deeply concerning that electric vehicle drivers - many of whom made the switch in good faith - will now be penalized."
The move is expected to reignite the debate over whether motorists are being treated as cash cows under the guise of green policy, and whether London's war on traffic is now turning on those who thought they were on the right side of the battle.
