Sadiq Khan has been accused of “bleeding motorists dry” as Londoners face forking out an extra £75m a year in increased road charges. The Mayor of London plans to increase the congestion charge, which runs from Mayfair to Tower Bridge east to west and from Euston Road in the north to Vauxhall in the south, by a fifth – £15 to £18.
And for the first time, electric car owners and delivery vans will be roped into being liable to pay the fee. In a slap to those celebrating the festive season, the planned increases are on track to come into force on Christmas Day – costing electric car drivers an extra £75m a day. The increases could total as much as £455m over the next five years, Auto Express magazine reported.
TfL’s internal financial projections showed that raising the congestion charge to £18 and extending it to electric vehicles – commercial delivery vans as well as cars – could rake in an extra £75m a year.
Transport for London (TfL), which is chaired by Mr Khan, is now facing accusations of “bleeding Londoners dry, just for the sake of their cash”.
Keith Prince AM, transport spokesman for City Hall Conservatives, said: “The Mayor insists that EVs are the future, but is planning to gut the incentive for most people to make the transition with these proposals, pulling the rug from under drivers.
“’To then penalise residents for not adopting EVs is not only wilfully inconsistent, but also shows the lengths the Mayor is prepared to go to in order to bleed Londoners dry, just for the sake of their cash.”
An AA spokesman told Auto Express it was “bitterly disappointed that TfL is now picking on EV drivers”, particularly at a time when the Government has set mandated targets which states that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain are set to be zero emission by 2030
The spokesperson added: “(The) incentive to get more people into zero emissions vehicles has now been swallowed up in a general cash grab.”
Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car sales website Electrifying.com, told The Telegraph: “It’s a backwards step for London’s air quality that punishes those making cleaner, greener transport choices.”
Meanwhile Conservative MP Louie French for Old Bexley and Sidcup has issued a stark warning that the upcoming increase in fees from £15 to £18 would have a “disproportionate impact” on constituents who rely on London roads for work.
The MP has written to Sadiq Khan calling on him to reverse the decision to increase the congestion charge, which will come into force on January 2, before it’s too late.
TfL has defended the proposal, saying it was necessary to manage congestion in the capital.
A TfL spokesperson said: “The Congestion Charge has been in place since its introduction in 2003 to manage traffic and congestion in the central one per cent of London during the busiest times of day.
“Without the changes proposed in our consultation, the charge would become less effective, with an estimated additional 2,200 vehicles in the zone on an average weekday.
“Under these proposals, we are also proposing a new Cleaner Vehicle Discount for those who do need to drive in the zone so they would still be able to benefit from a discount if they drive an electric vehicle, with a greater reduction for journeys that are harder to switch to walking, cycling and public transport, such as those made by vans for commercial purposes.
“Central London is one of the best-connected places in the world with high quality sustainable transport options.”