Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in central London have to pay the capital’s congestion charge for the first time.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan confirmed in November that EVs would lose their exemption from the fee.
The regular daily congestion charge for non-electrified vehicles has also risen for the first time since 2020 – from £15 to £18.
The congestion charge, introduced in 2003, covers an area of central London between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and between noon and 6pm on weekends and bank holidays.
Pure battery-powered EVs had been eligible for a 100% discount, but from Friday this was reduced to 25% for cars, and 50% for vans and lorries.
The EV discount will be cut further from March 4 2030, to 12.5% for cars and 25% for vans and lorries.
Reductions of up to 90% will be awarded to residents who live within the zone.
However, those who move into the zone after March 1 2027 will not get a discount unless they use an electric vehicle.
It comes ahead of so-called manic Monday, the first working Monday of the year which is expected to be one of the worst days for breakdowns.
January 5 was given the alliterative title by the AA, which said there could be a spike in calls for help as motorists head out in cars which have been sat idle over Christmas.
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