Dozens of leading businesses and green groups have united in an open letter to the Mayor calling on him to reverse the decision to scrap electric vehicles’ (EVs) exemption from the congestion charge.
In total 28 signatories of the letter, ranging from the AA to Greenpeace and published in today’s print edition of the London Standard, have asked Sadiq Khan to maintain London’s Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD).
The letter from the Electric London Coalition points out that the Mayor’s policies to date have put London at the forefront of the transition to EVs, but the planned ending of the 100% CVD could jeopardise this progress.
Currently, the CVD allows EVs to travel through the congestion zone for free. This has encouraged thousands of London’s businesses and residents to invest in going electric, delivering cleaner air for the entire city, with 90% of the clean air benefits felt outside the central area.
But Transport for London, which the Mayor chairs, is now consulting on proposals to introduce new charges for EVs from the New Year.
They will force EV drivers and businesses pay up to £13.50 a day to enter central London. For drivers providing essential goods, services and transport in central London, this could mean additional costs running to thousands of pounds a year.
The letter, which follows the launch of the Standard’s Leading the Charge campaign, highlights that these increased costs could prompt a backslide to petrol and diesel vehicles.
Investment in charging infrastructure could also be put at risk, just as the city needs to accelerate to meet its 2030 net zero goals.
Despite the progress already made, the coalition points out that London still has a long way to go.
While more than a third of new cars being registered in the capital are now electric, only 3% of vans are EVS.
Supported by the CVD, around 30% of private hire vehicles – which represent some of the highest mileage drivers in the city – are now electric, but that could be put at risk by the proposed rollback of the CVD.
Clive Selley, CEO of telecom networks giant Openreach, said: “As one of the UK’s largest fleet operators, we’re proud to be leading the shift to electric vehicles — with nearly 5,000 EVs already on the road — helping to cut emissions and improve air quality in London and beyond.
Incentives like the Cleaner Vehicle Discount have played a crucial role in making this progress possible. Reducing this support by half risks slowing momentum just as adoption is accelerating. Continued support is vital to overcoming barriers and keeping fleets like ours moving toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
Warren Kenny, London Regional Secretary for the GMB union, said: “The GMB stands shoulder to shoulder with those calling on the Mayor to rethink plans to scrap the Cleaner Vehicle Discount.
“This isn't just about clean air; it's about protecting jobs and livelihoods for our members who have invested in electric vehicles. Imposing new charges now would be a tax on progress and a blow to London's future as a “green city”. Workers have sacrificed substantial funds to make an environmental impact in the capital so why should they be penalised?”
Andrew Brem, UK General Manager for ride hailing app Uber, said: "Thanks to bold leadership, London has become a global leader in electrification. The congestion charge exemption for EVs has been instrumental to this. We want to work with TfL and others on a solution that maintains London's position as a global leader."
Greg Sage, Director of Corporate Affairs and ESG at Royal Mail, said: “We fully support the Coalition’s call for the Mayor to strengthen his commitment to electric vehicles so London remains at the forefront of the transition to EVs. As the UK’s largest electric delivery fleet operator, we believe that sustained investment in the EV transition is essential not only for protecting the environment, but for supporting the wellbeing of our people and the communities we serve across London.”
Matt Galvin, Managing Director of electric car maker Polestar UK, said: “The UK has consistently removed incentives to support customers making the move to pure electric and has even increased the tax burden on EV drivers. We are fully in favour of cleaning up London’s air quality, but removing the CVD will only slow EV adoption and put our net zero targets at risk We therefore urge a rethink from TfL. Simply put, it is too early to be taking away highly effective incentives such as these.”
Andy Hackett, Senior Policy Adviser at Centre for Net Zero, said: As the EV transition begins to move from early to mass adoption, now is not the time to lose momentum. Lower running costs remain a key advantage for consumers – an incentive that policy should reinforce. Citizens and businesses opting for an EV should continue to be rewarded for cutting London's transport emissions and improving air quality.”
Guy Bartlett, CEO of EV charge point operator Believ, said: "Believ has seen first-hand how the Cleaner Vehicle Discount has accelerated the transition to electric vehicles across London, particularly among the city’s highest-mileage drivers like taxi and private hire operators. Removing this vital incentive now would not only risk stalling this hard-won progress but could also slow down the transition towards zero emission vehicles. As a result of the positive and bold policies supporting EV adoption, London’s air is becoming cleaner and its residents healthier. For London and the UK to truly reach our net zero goals and continue to improve air quality, we must maintain these incentives and continue investing in the infrastructure that makes driving electric accessible and affordable for everyone."
The full list of signatories include:
1. AA
2. AA Charitable Trust
3. Arcadis
4. Be.EV
5. Believ
6. BusinessLDN
7. Centre for Net Zero
8. DHL
9. DPD
10. Electric Vehicle Association England
11. Electrify Britain
12. Fastned
13. GMB London and GMB Southern Regions
14. Green Alliance
15. Greenpeace
16. Openreach
17. Otto Car
18. Pod Point
19. Polestar
20. Recorra
21. Royal Mail
22. Splend
23. Sustainable Urban Freight Association (SUFA)
24. Uber
25. Volvo Cars
26. WeFlex
27. ZapMap
28. Zest
Leading The Charge is supported by commercial partners which share the project’s aims but our journalism remains editorially independent.
