Exact date electric vehicle drivers will be forced to pay London's £15-a-day congestion charge

07/02/2024 06:16 PM

ELECTRIC vehicle drivers are set to be forced to pay the total £15-a-day congestion charge in the next 18 months.

Transport for London have officially announced the exact date for the huge change – with it set to put a heavy dampener on next year’s festive celebrations.

Owners of zero-emission models are currently allowed to pay just £10 for an annual exemption from the capital’s Congestion Charge Zone.

But from December 25, 2025 the price will skyrocket up to £15 every single day for all drivers regardless of the emissions from their motors.

The nightmare on Christmas has been scrutinised by many experts with one dubbing it a “puzzling” move.

Others have laid the blame on London Mayor Sadiq Khan suggesting he is trying to make up some cash from the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). 

Londoners who drive zero-emission vehicles are currently rewarded with the reduced charges with over a million car users making the switch to an EV.

But by Christmas day in 2025 the playing field is set to be levelled out with the reduced Congestion Charge rate being driven off the roads.

The timing of the introduction of the full charge has also been seen as odd.

There is currently no Congestion Charge active on Christmas Day through to the new year on January 1 – meaning the charges don’t apply until 2026.

A spokesperson for Transport for London 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.”

Over 100,000 drivers in London could be affected by the changes, say estimates.

Motors specialists the AA blasted the termination of the lower charge saying it is “a turkey bone in the throat for EV owners who heeded his call to switch to green vehicles and improve air quality in the capital”.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the motoring group, added: “Cabbies and businesses who have made the switch to electric will now face an extra financial hurdle, that ultimately the consumer will pay. 

“Similarly, car reliant households will now pay more. The key question is: has this decision come about because he hasn't made as much money as he thought from the ULEZ expansion?”

Despite the major shake-up for EV drivers, another huge twist could be hitting UK roads by 2026.

Self-driving vehicles could be on the move in less than two years, according to the Government.

Under the Automated Vehicles Bill motorists will not be held responsible for the action of a vehicle in self-driving mode.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the landmark legislation means self-driving motors can be rolled out in Britain “as soon as 2026”.

He added: “This new law is a milestone moment for our self-driving industry which has the potential to change the way we travel forever.”

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the legislation delivers “the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide”.

It comes as new petrol and diesel cars are set to be banned in just six years time if Sir Keir Starmer and Labour wins power on Thursday night.

Labour’s manifesto launch confirmed it would reinstate the original timeline to outlaw the sale of new fossil fuel cars.

It claimed this would give “certainty to manufacturers” – despite forcing them to accelerate their plans to phase out petrol and diesel.

The party said it would “support the transition to electric vehicles” by accelerating the rollout of charge points.

But drivers face crippling costs to trade their fossil-fuel cars for electric alternatives.

Auto Trader analysis previously found just 10,000 of the used electric options on its UK-wide online vehicle marketplace cost under £15,000.

That is compared with 350,000 used petrol or diesel cars in the same price bracket.