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TfL to axe hybrid Congestion Charge exemption in 2019

By / 6 years ago / Latest News / No Comments

Transport for London is proposing tightening Congestion Charge exemption criteria from April 2019, including removing discounts for hybrids and private hire vehicles.

Congestion Charge signage on Millbank

The Congestion Charge has cut traffic 30% since it came into force.

If the proposals come into force, the current Ultra-Low Emission discount, which allows vehicles emitting 75g/km CO2 or less to enter the zone for free, provided they meet Euro 6 emissions limits, will be replaced with a new Cleaner Vehicle Discount.

This will retain the 75g/km cap, but with a requirement that vehicles should offer a 20-mile electric range, and meet Euro 6 emissions limits. In turn, this means conventional hybrids such as the Prius would no longer qualify, though newly-registered examples are no longer sub-75g/km due to NEDC Correlated CO2 figures. TfL estimates 90% of currently-eligible cars will still be next April.

From October 2021, the proposals suggest only pure electric vehicles will qualify, as part of steps towards a Zero Emission Zone in central London. Discounts will be abolished from 2026.

Private hire vehicles (PHVs) are also on TfL’s radar. The Congestion Charge is claimed to have cut traffic by 30% since it launched 15 years ago, but PHV volumes have more than quadrupled from 4,000 to 18,000 per day. TfL said removing this exemption will cut PHV traffic by 45%, cutting congestion, reducing emissions and improving access for buses.

PHVs which are wheelchair-accessible, or which meet the Cleaner Vehicle Discount criteria will continue to be exempt. TfL will also retain an exemption for black cabs, which are wheelchair accessible and must accept fares under 12 miles by law, which means they have no choice but to enter the zone.

However, Gareth Bacon AM is critical of proposals on PHVs, adding that the consultation means there is still time to have them reversed: “This latest move comes hot off the heels of massive increases in operator licence fees. When the industry suffers so do customers – increased costs will inevitably be passed on to Londoners to pay in higher fares.

“Having already created a £1 billion black hole in London’s transport budget, it is unacceptable for the Mayor to expect Londoners to foot the bill for his financial mismanagement.”

TfL’s consultation closes on Friday 28 September. More details can be found at: tfl.gov.uk/ccyourviews

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Alex Grant

Trained on Cardiff University’s renowned Postgraduate Diploma in Motor Magazine Journalism, Alex is an award-winning motoring journalist with ten years’ experience across B2B and consumer titles. A life-long car enthusiast with a fascination for new technology and future drivetrains, he joined Fleet World in April 2011, contributing across the magazine and website portfolio and editing the EV Fleet World Website.