Uber and GMB Union part of coalition urging Mayor of London to rethink end of Congestion Charge Zone discount
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 7
- 1 min read
Updated: Jul 9
A coalition of major electric vehicle stakeholders has called on the Mayor of London to reconsider the planned rollback of the Cleaner Vehicle Discount in the Congestion Charge Zone.
The Electric London coalition, which includes firms such as Uber, DHL, Volvo, and GMB Union, is warning that the removal of the discount could undermine the city’s electric vehicle (EV) progress and impact thousands of households and businesses.
Currently, EVs are exempt from paying the daily £13.50 Congestion Charge. That incentive, the coalition argues, has played a key role in driving EV adoption by offering free access to central London. According to the coalition, more than a third of new cars registered in the capital are now electric, and the city has seen major air quality improvements as a result.
The group claims that ending the discount will penalise those who have already invested in electric vehicles. Businesses and households making regular trips into the centre could face annual costs of up to £3,000 per vehicle.
The proposal to reintroduce the charge for EVs is seen by the group as a backwards step that could slow progress toward meeting London’s 2030 net zero transport targets. They argue that maintaining incentives such as the Cleaner Vehicle Discount is key to supporting further investment in EV infrastructure and achieving city-wide emissions reductions.
The coalition says it is committed to helping London remain a global leader in zero-emission transport and has urged the Mayor to continue supporting policies that accelerate the switch to cleaner vehicles.
