Private hire drivers fight back as Congestion Charge discount for electric vehicles set to end
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Private hire drivers across London are pushing back against plans to remove the 100% Congestion Charge discount for electric vehicles from December 2025.
A petition has gone live, urging the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) to reverse the decision. At the centre of the campaign are thousands of private hire drivers who made the switch to electric vehicles, partly due to the current discount that exempts them from the £15 daily Congestion Charge.
From 25 December 2025, that discount will end. The daily charge is also set to rise to £18, hitting private hire drivers who rely on their vehicles to work long hours across the capital. While TfL plans to introduce a 25% discount for electric cars and 50% for commercial electric vans, those behind the petition say the new rates do little to support the drivers who helped push London’s shift to cleaner transport.
Many in the private hire sector say they were encouraged to invest in electric vehicles based on long-term benefits, including the Congestion Charge discount. With the new policy, they argue those promises are being rolled back, placing additional financial strain on drivers already under pressure from rising costs and low margins.
The petition highlights the risk of pushing drivers back towards petrol or diesel vehicles, which could undermine efforts to improve air quality. Campaigners are asking for the full discount to be reinstated for essential workers such as private hire drivers and couriers, alongside a call for long-term clarity on EV incentives.
The petition can be signed at www.actionhubuk.org.
