2021
ZFE, ZPA and ZPAd? French Low Emission Zones explained
There are different environmental zones in France. Some of the zones are permanently active, while others are only temporary. The latter are also called weather-related air protection zones, whereby the word "weather" does not refer to a specific weather condition such as sunshine or rain, but to the air quality, which often goes hand in hand with the weather.
Car-free zone has success
Since Berlin's Friedrichstraße was closed to car traffic, the air quality in the street and the surrounding area has improved significantly. German Environmental Aid is therefore calling for more car-free zones in other cities and areas as well. However, the reason for the improvement could also be the pandemic.
Dirty company cars
Company cars in Germany still run on diesel and petrol far too often, putting the brakes on climate policy. A full 87% of new company cars have a combustion engine. The fleet urgently needs to be redesigned to save CO2.
Schizophrenia of German drivers
Cheap, fast and easy. That's how Germans like their mobility. Many don't care whether it is also good for the climate. So although many citizens are calling for more climate protection, they don't want to start with their own cars.
Bavaria: Privileges instead of driving bans
Eco-lanes and free parking in city centres: Bavaria's cities are to become more attractive for e-cars. There are to be no car-free zones, strict environmental zones or a speed limit on Bavaria's motorways, although this could have a lot of effect.
Why does my e-car need a green environmental sticker?
Even the newest vehicles and those with electric drives need a green environmental sticker in Germany. We are often asked why this is the case. E-cars registered in Germany have the letter "E" at the end of the number plate and are thus directly recognisable as electric vehicles. Isn't that enough? The answer: unfortunately, no!
Spain: 150 new environmental zones
Spain is getting serious in the fight against combustion cars. A new law requires cities with over 50,000 inhabitants to introduce environmental zones. About 150 cities are affected. In addition, taxes on diesel and petrol vehicles and tolls on motorways are to make driving more difficult for Spaniards.
A rethink of traffic law
German experts are calling for a complete reorganisation of German traffic law in order to make tomorrow's mobility more climate-friendly and safer. Only a uniform law that specifically anchors environmental and climate protection can achieve the newly formulated climate goals of the federal government in the transport sector.
Way free for autonomous driving
Germany is the first country in the world to pass a law for autonomous driving. It is intended to make the roads safer and also more climate-friendly. To implement it, special lanes or entire zones would have to be set up in which the vehicles can travel.
What is the difference between registration and environmental sticker?
A general definition is quickly found. A sticker is a small haptic plate of any shape and colour and a registration, in contrast, is a process of entering information into a directory or database. But what about environmental stickers and registrations for environmental zones?