It might not be a very Merry Christmas for electric vehicle owners living in London by the time the festivities roll around next year. That’s because from 25 December 2025 EVs will have to pay the full amount to drive in the capital’s Congestion Charge Zone, TfL has confirmed.
Owners of zero-emission models currently benefit from only having to pay £10 for an annual exemption from the charging zone, but TfL has confirmed they will be stung with the standard rate – a £15 daily charge – from the end of next year, says MSN.
One expert dubbed the decision ‘puzzling’ while others suggest the London Mayor Sadiq Khan is attempting to make up for the shortfall in revenue generated by the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
The UK recently marked more than 1 million EVs on the road, and until now one of the financial benefit for Londoners has been the reduced Congestion Charge rate for driving a zero-emission vehicle into the centre of the city.
But from the end of 2025 that benefit is being scrapped. A spokesperson for TfL said: “The Congestion Charge’s Cleaner Vehicle Discount was part of our phased scheme to tackle London’s toxic air. Ending the Cleaner Vehicle Discount from 25 December 2025 will maintain the effectiveness of the Congestion Charge, which is in place to manage traffic and congestion in the heart of London.’
The termination of EV discounts could affect around 100,000 drivers living in the capital, it has been estimated.
