Drivers of electric vehicles in London could soon be penalised for their eco-friendly choice under proposed changes to the city's Congestion Charge scheme.
AA Warns Against 'Premature' Policy Change
AA president Edmund King has written to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, cautioning that removing the Cleaner Vehicle Discount for EVs would be a huge mistake. The motoring organisation argues this move is premature and risks backfiring on multiple fronts.
Mr King stated that waiving the discount could harm London's drivers, EV uptake, air quality and the Mayor's ambition to make London the first EV-ready global city. He emphasised that while electric vehicles represent a great choice for some, we're not yet at the point where removing incentives makes sense.
Financial Impact on Early Adopters
The AA estimates that nearly half the cost of the Congestion Charge changes will fall on these early adopters who invested in electric vehicles. Under the new proposals, drivers of fully electric plug-in cars will have to pay £13.50 daily, representing a 25% discount to the full £18 rate.
Electric van drivers face an even steeper change, being saddled with a £9 daily charge where they previously paid nothing. Mr King urged the Mayor not to penalise the very businesses that bought into his clean air vision by adding new costs when many are already struggling financially.
Broader Implications for London's Green Future
Transport for London, which is chaired by the Mayor, has been conducting a consultation on these proposals, with results expected as soon as Friday. A TfL spokesperson defended London's progress, noting the capital leads the way with more than 26,670 public charging points - around a third of the UK's total provision.
However, the spokesperson acknowledged that electric vehicle uptake in recent years was at the lower end of original projections, leading to revised forecasts. They cited wider economic uncertainty and cost-of-living pressures making consumers more cautious about switching to electric vehicles.
Mr King delivered a stark warning about the consequences of removing support: Without targeted support, we risk losing both the trust of London's drivers and the momentum behind greener transport.
