Blog & News

May 2024

Poor air quality in Lille - ZFE to remedy the situation

News from France

The French metropolis of Lille is preparing to introduce a low emission zone (ZFE-m) from 1 January 2025 in order to improve air quality. This low emission zone will restrict the circulation of vehicles with stickers 4 and 5 as well as unclassified vehicles in order to reduce emissions of air pollutants and improve local air quality. There are already more than 300 such zones in Europe, which have shown positive results in reducing pollutant emissions and improving air quality.

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low emission zone Studies Pollutants Air Pollution Health

More low emission zones - fewer sick children!

News from Germany
News from EU
News from World

Children who grow up in low emission zones are less likely to have asthma - that is an incontrovertible fact. A new study shows that driving bans for older diesel cars actually have a positive effect on children's health. The analysis of health insurance data showed that children who are exposed to less particulate matter need less asthma medication.

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low emission zone Studies Pollutants Air Pollution Health

Tolls and "Pickerl" in Germany - will drivers be asked to pay even more after all?

News from Germany

The idea of a car toll in Germany is back on the table - despite the failure of earlier plans and the resulting high compensation claims. Economic experts are urging the German government to introduce a route-based toll in order to modernize the ailing transport infrastructure. But how realistic is this plan after the debacle surrounding former Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer's earlier toll plans?

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Negotiations Future Car Fines

Electric cars: France's ambitious goals for a clean future

News from France

France has ambitious plans: 800,000 electric cars are to be sold by 2027. This decision to switch to electric vehicles is part of an industry agreement that the automotive industry has concluded with the government. This step is also a preparation for the European deadline of 2035, from which all new cars must be electrically powered. Despite slower growth in the electric car market in Europe at the beginning of 2024, France has set itself ambitious targets to increase its market share to 45%.

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Electrical Future Air Pollution Car alternative fuels Driving ban

Rouen ZFE - Entry conditions are relaxed

News from France

The metropolis of Rouen recently introduced an important change to the low emission zone to make life easier for the city's motorists. Previously, only vehicles with stickers 1-3 were allowed to drive freely in the low emission zone, while vehicles with higher stickers were subject to restrictions. From 1 July 2024, however, a new "ZFE pass" will be introduced, which will also allow vehicles with class 4 and 5 stickers and unclassified vehicles to enter the low emission zone.

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low emission zone Future Car Driving ban City centre Air Pollution

Low emission zones in Austria - stickers instead of fines

News from Austria

Austria is actively committed to clean air. Low emission zones have been set up in six out of nine federal states. These zones were created to reduce emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides and thus protect the environment. The focus is particularly on delivery traffic, as it is considered to be the main source of these harmful emissions. However, it is likely that this regulation will also be extended to passenger transport in the future, as the EU directives on particulate matter and nitrogen oxides are not yet fully complied with.

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low emission zone Driving ban Air Pollution Penalties Truck City centre

Electric cars - the future or a flash in the pan

News from Germany

The recent decline in support for electric cars in Germany could have serious consequences for the country's air quality. According to a recent survey, only 17 per cent of Germans are still considering buying an electric car, a drop of 24 per cent from the previous year. This decline could affect air quality in German cities and towns that are already struggling with high emissions from combustion engines.

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alternative fuels Car Electrical Air Pollution Future

Stuttgart: a constant battle for better air

News from Germany

In Stuttgart, the city with the most cars per inhabitant in Germany, air pollution control is a constant source of controversy and a constant challenge. For 25 years, the city has been trying to comply with EU limits for clean air and has taken a number of measures to achieve this. But what has really helped and is the air in Stuttgart cleaner today?

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low emission zone Future Air Pollution measured values Limit values Health

Electric cars: same rules, same penalties?

News from Germany

In the debate about noise protection and speed limits in Germany, the Zweibrücken Higher Regional Court has now made a decision that could cause confusion. The driver of an electric car, who was travelling at 174 km/h instead of the permitted 100 km/h in a noise protection zone, defended himself against a fine. His argument was that his electric car was quieter than a car with a combustion engine, so he did not have to adhere to the noise-related speed limit. The court took a different view.

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Infringements Speed limit Court decision Penalties alternative fuels Electrical Car

Stockholm bans petrol and diesel cars from the city centre from 2025 - a role model for other major cities or an experimental laboratory at the expense of citizens?

News from Sweden

The Swedish capital Stockholm has set itself an ambitious goal: From 2025, petrol and diesel cars are to be banned from the city centre. The EU Commission has given the green light for the introduction of a new low emission zone. But is the plan really feasible or just another symbolic political measure by the green-red coalition?

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low emission zone alternative fuels Electrical Diesel Combustion engines Pollutants City centre