Electric vehicles and charge points
We need to clean up London's air and rid the Capital of the most polluting vehicles. The Mayor has an ambition for the Capital to be a zero-carbon city by 2030 and to bring improvements in air quality as part of the Mayor's Transport Strategy.
To achieve this, we're supporting and accelerating the shift to zero emission technologies, such as electric cars, led by an Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure strategy.
We additionally need to reduce overall traffic and car ownership in London. Opting to join a car club (many of which are now electric) instead of privately owning a car will support this and result in a further reduction in air pollution. Find out more about car clubs
Electric vehicles.
The main types of electric vehicles are:
- Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are powered by a battery which drives the electric motor. They have no exhaust or tailpipe emissions. Most new battery electric vehicles have a real- world range of 100 to 300 miles on a single full charge
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) also have a conventional diesel or petrol engine, PHEVs have a fully- electric range of up to 50 miles. They can also operate in hybrid mode, using the internal combustion engine
- Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) have a fuel cell which uses hydrogen to produce electricity and power the vehicle's wheels. They typically have a range of around 300 miles
Benefits
By switching to a zero emission-capable vehicle you can save money on fuel costs, reduce harmful vehicle emissions and help clean up London's air.
There are also financial benefits:
- Zero emission vehicles that meet the criteria are eligible for a 100% discount on the Congestion Charge until 24 December 2025
- The Government offers grants for new plug-in vehicles, . Find out about plug-in vehicle grants
- Electric vehicles currently pay either no vehicle tax (VED) or a reduced rate depending on their CO2 emissions, vehicle list price and year of registration. Find out about tax benefits
- There are a range of tax incentives for business users
- Some London boroughs offer free or reduced-charge parking for electric vehicles
Charging your vehicle.
Public charge points are available if you cannot charge your vehicle at home or at your workplace. The number of public charge points in London is increasing rapidly.
Slow and fast public charge points are available on residential streets and at key destinations, including public car parks. The charging time will depend on the power level of the charge point and the capacity of your vehicle's battery.
Rapid and ultra-rapid charge points allow faster charging of your electric vehicle, taking around 20 minutes to get an 80% charge, depending on your vehicle's battery capacity. You will pay more for higher powered and faster charging.
If you are a Londoner who does not have access to off-street parking to charge at home, you can suggest a location for the delivery of an on-street, slow charge point through your borough. Find out how to suggest a location for a new charge point near to where you live.
Map of electric vehicle charge points
Charge point maps by Zap-Map show where charge points are located across London.
The maps allows you to check which charge points are available, find your nearest rapid charging point and even plan a driving route to go via a rapid charging point. Zap-Map can also be downloaded as an app on your mobile.
London's 2030 electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure strategy
London's 2030 electric vehicle infrastructure strategy looks ahead to 2030, taking into account recent and expected future developments in the industry. It also updates our understanding of typical user requirements as the transition to EVs accelerates beyond early adopters.
The strategy - published in December 2021 along with an executive summary - sets out what is needed to ensure enough EV infrastructure is in London by 2030, and proposes how we will work with the wider public sector and private sector to achieve this.
Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure delivery plan
The London electric vehicle infrastructure delivery plan published in 2019 shows fleets, businesses and London's residents that there is a clear way forward towards the right type and amount of charging infrastructure to serve London's needs. Its forecasts have since been updated in our new EV infrastructure strategy.
We've created guidance for borough officers and third party organisations to help them with the installation of new EV charge points.
You can read about the progress made since the launch of the London electric vehicle infrastructure delivery plan in the One year on progress report.
Charge point installation guidance
We have created guidance for borough officers and third-party organisations to help them with the installation of new EV charge points.
Other support for electric vehicles in London
We're making London's taxis to be the greenest in the world. New taxis need to be zero-emission capable to be licensed, and private hire vehicles (minicabs) need to meet new tighter requirements. Dedicated e-taxi bays are being installed to promote the greening of London's iconic black cab fleet. Find out more about our how we're creating greener taxis and greener PHVs.
LoCITY is an industry-led programme to help the freight and fleet sector lead the way in improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.
