Request ID: FOI-0300-2223 Date published: 01 June 2022
You asked
Please provide annual statistics on the number of congestion charge penalties issued to EVs between 2017 and 2021 (additionally for 2022 YTD). Please also break out Teslas specifically from these figures (which can only be electric vehicles and are thus all qualify for an exemption). For all EVs and for Teslas as a sub-set, please provide the total revenue TfL has generated from penalties on the same annual basis.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0300-2223/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 10 May 2022 asking for information about Congestion charge penalties for EVs.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require.
The Congestion Charging ‘Scheme Order’, the legal document which outlines how we must run the Congestion Charge, states that electric vehicles are 100% discounted from the Congestion Charge under the Cleaner Vehicle Discount (CVD). This is subject to registration with us and an annual renewal. A copy of the Scheme Order is available online at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/consolidated-cc-scheme-order.pdf
If the vehicle is not registered with us and is used in the zone, during charging hours, a penalty may be issued. In the interest of fairness if a motorist incurs a first penalty in a vehicle which is entitled to the CVD 100% and submits a representation to us we will cancel the penalty and advise the motorist of the registration process.
When we issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) we do not record the fuel type of the vehicle and therefore we do not hold information on the number of PCNs issued to electric vehicles. However we do record the vehicle make and model and the table below details the number of Congestion Charging PCNs issued to Teslas per calendar year from 2017.
Following some amendments to our systems in March 2021 we are now able to perform additional validation checks prior to a Penalty Charge Notice being issued and this has meant that we are able to carry out further verification and prevent PCNs being issued to vehicles which we can establish would be entitled to the 100% CVD. However we would encourage all electric vehicle owners to follow the correct process and register via our website
Year
PCNs Issued
£ Paid
2017
1,127
£ 50,227.00
2018
1,134
£ 67,632.00
2019
2,153
£ 137,547.11
2020
7,542
£ 497,607.83
2021
1,626
£ 100,693.72
Notes:
CC was suspended from 23 March to 17 May 2020 in response to COVID19. No PCNs were issued during the first two weeks after CC resumed on 18 May (18-31 May).
From 22 June 2020 the CC scheme extended its hours of operation from Monday to Friday 07:00-18:00 to Monday to Sunday 07:00-22:00. No PCNs were issued during the first two weekends of CC 7 day/week operation (27-28 June, 4-5 July).
From 21 February 2022, charging hours changed to 07:00-18:00 Monday to Friday; 12:00-18:00 Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
