Congestion Zone Discount Scrapped
The PHEV exemption rule for London’s Congestion charge zone has been withdrawn. This changed on 25th Oct, to coincide with the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). The 100% discount for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles has will change to a standard charge of £15 to enter the zone. The ULEZ expanded on the 25th of October to cover 18 times more area than the original zone. The original and expanded zone includes the congestion charge zone.
Transport for London (TfL) estimates the expansion will affect around 138,000 more vehicles every day. This includes 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries. Before the changes, vehicles that emitted a maximum of 75g/km of CO2 could enter the zone under the 100% discount. Now the discount only extends to battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. But TfL says they will scrap this discount alltogether by Christmas 2025.
Comment
Senior policy and programs officer for the Greater London Authority (GLA), Tanya Ferguson said:
“We’re ending the cleaner vehicle discount for plug-in hybrids in recognition of the point that vehicles contribute to congestion and we want to be encouraging a shift to walking, cycling and public transport.”
Currently, the charging hours are from 7 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. But a consultation run by TfL is looking to the future operation of the congestion charge. The main proposals in this consultation are to scrap evening charges.
There are also discussions around changing operating times to between 12-6 pm on weekends. TfL say this is to target the busiest times within the zone and further, reduce congestion.
How can we help?
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Congestion Zone Discount Scrapped
