False Claims about London ULEZ and Electric VehiclesFalse Claims about London ULEZ and Electric Vehicles Social media posts have spread misinformation alleging that the electric vehicle exemption from London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will expire next year. However, these claims are false. The BBC article cited in the misleading posts pertains to changes in congestion charge rates for electric vehicles in London, effective December 25, 2025. This does not affect the ULEZ exemption for electric vehicles, which remains in place due to their zero emissions of harmful pollutants. Transport for London (TfL) has clarified that electric vehicles are still exempt from the ULEZ charge, as they meet the minimum emission standards for the zone. False and misleading claims about the ULEZ scheme and congestion charge can erode trust in the government and hinder informed public discourse. It is essential to rely on credible sources and verify information before sharing it.
Posts are circulating on social media falsely claiming that an electric vehicle exemption from London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will expire next year.
A screenshot of a BBC article headlined “End of zero-emission vehicle rebates” on the London section of the BBC News site has been shared with a misleading caption linking the article to ULEZ.
Posts with similar captions, shared on both X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, read: “NET ZERO – Oh look. All those who were scammed into believing an electric car would prevent them from driving in London are about to get screwed. ULEZ exemption ends next year!”
But that’s not what the BBC story, published on July 1, says. It’s about a change to the congestion charge that electric vehicles in London will have to pay, which will come into effect from December 25, 2025.
Transport for London (TfL) has announced that drivers who previously paid £10 under the ‘cleaner vehicle discount’, which provided a year-long exemption from congestion charges, will now have to pay the standard rate of £15 per day unless they receive another discount or exemption.
However, electric vehicles do not have to pay the £12.50 per day surcharge when driving within the ULEZ, as they do not emit NOx or CO2 and therefore meet minimum emissions standards.
We have written about false and misleading claims about the ULEZ scheme and congestion charge on several occasions, including that charges were suspended for Eid celebrations and that bat boxes attached to cameras enforcing ULEZ cannot be legally removed. These claims have the potential to undermine confidence in politics and harm public debate.
