Overview
- From 2 January 2026 the full congestion charge rises to £18, with electric cars paying £13.50 and electric vans and HGVs £9, marking the first increase since 2020.
- Electric vehicles receive a 25% discount for cars and 50% for vans and lorries at launch, falling from 4 March 2030 to 12.5% and 25% respectively.
- The 90% residents’ discount will apply only to EV owners from March 2027, and car‑club electric vehicles will retain a full exemption.
- TfL cites rapid growth in EV use—around six times 2019 levels and approaching one in five vehicles in the zone—as a reason to maintain the scheme’s effectiveness against congestion.
- Motoring groups and unions criticize the decision as penalizing drivers who switched to EVs, and separate reports suggest the chancellor may consider a national pay‑as‑you‑drive levy for EVs.