Logistics UK is concerned that Transport for London (TfL) may apply the Congestion Charge to zero-emission freight vehicles after the current exemption expires on 25 December.

TfL is currently consulting on three policy proposals: increasing the Charge from £15 to £18, introducing a new Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD) for electric vehicles which will vary according to vehicle type, and a change to the Residents’ Discount for new applicants to extend the incentivising effect of the CVD to residents.

Under the new CVD proposal, from 2 January 2026, electric vans and HGVs would receive a 50 per cent discount (as compared to 100 per cent currently), then from 4 March 2030 this would drop to 25 per cent.

Logistics UK’s senior policy manager for road freight regulation, Chris Yarsley, said the new proposals would represent a significant increase in costs for electric vehicle operators: “It is vital TfL incentivise operators to decarbonise fleets and we continue to press for the continued exemption from the charge for electric vans and HGVs.

“Any increase in charges is a disincentive for operators to serve the capital and congestion charges should be used to encourage road users to use alternative modes of transport – an option that is not available to logistics operators.

“Operators have made significant investments moving to electric vehicles and they simply cannot afford to soak up additional costs so it is likely that any increase in charges will have to be passed on which will ultimately lead to increased prices for the end user.

“London depends on logistics businesses to keep the capital stocked with everything its businesses and consumers rely on every day, and the transition to alternatively fuelled vehicles should be incentivised, not penalised in this way.”

Operators can respond to the consultation till 4 August 2025 at the Transport for London website. 

For consultation:  https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge-proposals