Sadiq Khan to punish drivers with new charges on top of Ulez impacting 100,000 vehicles next year

The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily fee drivers must pay in certain areas in London for travelling in the city, this is on top of any Ulez fees for non-compliant vehicles.

However electric vehicles were able to benefit from a Cleaner Vehicle Discount which would give them a 100 per cent discount from paying the £15 fee.

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But this discount will end next year affecting 112,318 vehicles who will soon have to pay the £15 fee if they drive in the zone between 7am and 6pm between Monday and Friday, or between 12pm and 6pm on the weekends.

According to a Freedom of Information request, 43,937 vehicles were slapped with congestion fees every day last year.

Meanwhile, 68,312 vehicles were exempt due to the discount while 57,796 Blue Badge holder vehicles were also protected from paying.

Transport for London explained that the CVD has seen a steep rise in vehicles registered for the discount from just over 20,000 at the start of 2019.

The plan to remove the discount has been met with backlash from drivers with many taking to social media to vent their frustration.

One person shared: “When is this abuse of the motorist going to end? People who thought buying electric is going to cost less you're in for a massive shock soon enough.

“How many more taxes can these politicians inflict on us before the fight back starts?”

TfL detailed how the plan to remove the discount was part of a phased approach to improving road traffic emissions in the capital and will work hand-in-hand with the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

TfL stated: “With around a year and a half until the discount is due to end, it is likely that these numbers will continue to increase significantly and continuing to provide the CVD would undermine the benefits of the Congestion Charge.

“Electric vehicles are not exempt from the Congestion Charge, rather they are entitled to a 100 per cent discount.

“This is subject to registration with us. Ending the CVD will maintain the effectiveness of the Congestion Charge, which is in place to manage traffic and congestion in the heart of London.”

Oliver Lord, from the environmental campaign group Clean Cities, said the change was "puzzling", adding that incentives for businesses to switch to electric vehicles would be one of the best ways to fight against the most polluting vehicles.

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While Ulez zones are in place 24/7, the congestion fees for travelling in the city will not occur on Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday.