Electric vehicle drivers will have to pay London's congestion charge for the first time in the latest move in Sadiq Khan's war on motorists.

The regular daily congestion charge for non-electrified vehicles has also risen for the first time in five years from £15 to £18. 

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan confirmed in November that electric vehicles would lose their exemption from the fee with the new rules coming into place today.

Critics have said it is a ‘backward step’ which would drive up the cost of motoring and push up prices, as tradesmen and delivery firms will be forced to pass on increased operating costs to consumers. 

It comes after it was revealed that Underground and rail fares in the capital will rise by nearly 5 per cent later this year.

A single Tube journey within zone 1 will go up by 10p to £2.90, although bus and tram fares in London will be frozen at £1.75 for unlimited journeys within an hour. 

The hike in Transport for London (TfL) fares is double the rate of inflation, but matches the increase in regulated train fares on England's mainline railway.

TfL daily caps will now rise by between 40p and 70p depending on what zones are travelled through - with the zone 1-2 cap up 40p to £8.90, and the zone 1-3 cap up 50p to £10.50. Travelcard prices will also increase by an average of 4.6 per cent.

Electric vehicle drivers will have to pay London's congestion charge for the first time in the latest move in Sadiq Khan's war on motorists continues

The regular daily congestion charge for non-electrified vehicles has also risen for the first time in five years from £15 to £18 

The congestion charge, introduced in 2003, covers an area of central London between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, and between noon and 6pm on weekends and bank holidays.

Pure battery-powered EVs had been eligible for a 100 per cent discount, but from Friday this was reduced to 25 per cent for cars, and 50 per cent for vans and lorries.

The electric vehicle discount will be cut further from March 4 2030, to 12. per cent for cars and 25 per cent for vans and lorries.

Reductions of up to 90 per cent will be awarded to residents who live within the zone.

However, those who move into the zone after March 1 2027, will not get a discount unless they use an electric vehicle. 

It is paid on top of the ultra-low emission zone charge of £12.50 daily, which motorists driving older more polluting vehicles are forced to pay. However, this charge covers a much larger area and stretches to the borders with the Home Counties after Sir Sadiq expanded it.