Electric vehicle drivers will soon have to pay to enter central London, as part of Transport for London’s (TfL) plans to revise the Congestion Charge. The move has divided campaigners, business groups, and clean air advocates, but adds to a broader trend as cities are readressing their clean air policies.
The overhaul doesn’t affect the exemption for electric vehicles alone. As from January 2026, the daily fee for entering the zone will rise from £15 to £18 (€17,5 to €21), the first increase in five years. The fact that electric vehicles lose their exemption from the charge, leads to controversy, but they still benefit from a disount, though, They will be charged £13.50 (€15.8), provided they’re signed up for TfL’s Auto Pay system. That discount is set to halve again in 2030.
No longer sustainable
The new pricing structure, which also includes a 50% discount for electric vans and lorries, is part of a wider rethink of how London manages its chronically congested roads. TfL argues that the current EV exemption is no longer sustainable, given the sharp rise in electric car ownership.
The issue isn’t about clean air exclusively, but also about traffic jams and diverting commuters to public transport. Similar measures were adopted by the city of Oslo, after the incentives had boosted electric driving to the demise of public tranport. Changes are also coming to the residents’ discount. From March 2027, only drivers of electric vehicles will be eligible for the 90% reduction.
Without changes, TfL warned, an additional 2,200 vehicles could enter the zone every weekday, threatening to reverse progress on traffic reduction. The decision to bring EVs into the scheme has sparked concern among business groups and environmental campaigners alike.
Traffic reduction
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) focused on the price rise, warning that it could pile pressure on companies already facing tight margins. “Businesses will look to charge customers in the zone a premium for their services, which will heighten inflationary pressures further,” said a representative.
The Congestion Charge, first introduced in 2003 under then-mayor Ken Livingstone, has long been a cornerstone of London’s traffic policy. It’s credited with reducing traffic levels by 30% in its first year and remains one of the most recognisable tools for managing the capital’s roads.
France votes against LEZ
In contrast to other cities, the revised scheme doesn’t change the prerequisites for the ULEZ zone in London. Brussels has decided to delay the ban of Euro 5 diesels by two years (July 2027) as it might discriminate lower classes more dependent on older cars for their mobility needs.
A similar argument led to France voting in favour of abolishing the country’s low emission zones (ZFE) last Sunday. The measure, which passed by a strong majority of 98 votes to 51, threatens to dismantle the Crit’Air schemes in 25 cities which aim at curbing pollution by restricting older, high-emission vehicles. Critics of the zones, mainly from conservative parties, argued they disproportionately penalise low-income drivers unable to afford cleaner vehicles.
The vote was called “shameful” by France’s environment minister, Agnès Pannier-Runacher (Renaissance). Though the move has passed in the Assembly, it is not yet law and could be overturned by France’s Constitutional Council. However, the vote shows how cities increasingly struggle to align their mobility schemes with public opinion.
