Fleets could save £17m a year on Congestion Charge by going electric

Fleet and business vehicle operators could save more than £17 million a year in London Congestion Charge Zone payments by switching to electric or plug-in hybrid cars and vans, according to new research.

Analysis of Transport for London data obtained via a Freedom of Information request revealed that, despite a freeze in payments last year – from 23 March to 17 May due to the Covid-19 pandemic – businesses still spent more than £1.4 million per month to enter and operate in central London.

In June, Transport for London introduced temporary measures to the Congestion Charge Zone increasing the daily fee from £11.50 to £15, with the charge applicable seven days a week. Entry to the Congestion Charge Zone in London is free for all vehicles that meet the current Euro 6 emissions criteria, emit less than 75g/km of CO2 and have a minimum 20-mile zero emissions range.

Research by Citroën UK reveals Transport for London collected £17,422,351 in business payments for use of the Congestion Charge Zone between October 2019 and September 2020. In contrast, businesses switching to 100% electric vehicles, such as the Citroën ë-Dispatch van and the New ë-C4 compact family hatchback, enjoy free access to the Congestion Charge Zone.

New Citroën ë-Dispatch is available with either a 50kWh or a 75kWh battery pack and has an impressive range of up to 205 miles on a single charge. Supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge can be completed in just 30 minutes. With up to 6.6m3 of load volume and a payload of up to 1,002kg, the new ë-Dispatch van suits the needs of many fleet and business users. According to Citroën UK’s analysis, the total cost of ownership for a new ë -Dispatch van could be less than 50% that for an equivalent Diesel van.

New ë-C4 features a 50kWh battery and a 100kW (136hp) electric motor, and has a zero emissions range of up to 217 miles. It also supports up to 100kW rapid charging with an 80% charge taking as little as 30 minutes.

Eurig Druce, Managing Director of Citroën UK, said: “Electric vehicles such as New ë-C4 and ë-Dispatch van are ideal for business and fleet users. Not only do they suit a variety of driving conditions, their zero emissions capability results in no Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) payments. As our latest research shows, businesses also stand to make significant savings in other areas – including Congestion Charge Zone payments.”