AA Chief Warns Ending EV Congestion Charge Exemption Could Harm Air Quality

AA President Edmund King has warned that plans to end London’s congestion charge exemption for electric vehiclescould have unintended consequences — potentially damaging air quality and slowing electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

In a letter obtained by the London Evening Standard, Mr King urged Mayor Sadiq Khan to reconsider the proposal, saying the move “has come too soon” and “could backfire on London’s drivers, EV uptake, air quality, and your admirable ambition to be the first EV-ready global city.”

The Mayor is expected to confirm later this week that the Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD) — which currently exempts fully electric vehicles from the congestion charge — will be scrapped in the New Year. Under the new rules, EV car drivers will pay £13.50 per day, representing a 25% discount on the £18 standard rate, while electric van drivers will face a £9 daily charge.

Transport for London (TfL) recently completed a public consultation on the proposed changes, with the results expected to be published as soon as Friday.

In his letter, King argued that drivers still face major challenges when switching to electric vehicles, including high upfront costs and limited charging infrastructure.

He pointed to AA research assessing the affordability and practicality of EV ownership, which found that “while EVs are a viable and attractive option for some, significant barriers remain to mass adoption.”

According to the AA’s first-ever EV Readiness Rating, the UK currently scores 47.5 out of 100, suggesting that it may be too early to withdraw incentives designed to encourage drivers to make the switch.

King’s concerns echo those raised by the Evening Standard’s “Leading the Charge” campaign, which has also warned that removing EV incentives prematurely could undermine progress toward cleaner transport.