Transport for London (TfL) has announced that, effective 2 January, electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be exempt from the London congestion charge. Electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and vans entering the central zone will incur a daily charge of £9, representing a 50 per cent reduction compared to the rate for diesel and petrol vehicles, which will increase from £15 to £18 in January.

This marks the first time EVs are subject to the congestion levy, prompting criticism from industry stakeholders. Electric cars will also become liable for the charge at 75 per cent of the standard rate, equating to a daily fee of £13.50.

The congestion charging zone encompasses the area within the London Inner Ring Road and operates from 7am to 6pm on weekdays and from 12pm to 6pm on weekends.

The Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA) expressed strong disappointment regarding the decision, referencing TfL data indicating that only 2.1 per cent of vehicles in inner London are electric vans. SUFA argued that the new charge could undermine efforts to electrify freight transport and potentially result in increased use of diesel vans to offset operational costs.

TfL confirmed that the current 100 per cent cleaner vehicle discount will expire on Christmas Day 2025, with no congestion charges applied from Christmas Day through New Year’s Day. The revised charging policy will commence on 2 January. Additionally, the discount for electric HGVs and vans is scheduled to decrease further to 25 per cent in March 2030.

Further information:

https://transportoperator.co.uk/2025/11/14/tfl-to-extend-congestion-charge-to-electric-vehicles/