May 2021
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?
No speed limit in Germany
In Spain it has just been passed, in France the measure has existed for a long time: 30 km/h speed limit in cities and villages. Speed limits can significantly reduce the number of traffic fatalities and air pollution. The WHO is also in favour of it. In Germany, the idea falls on deaf ears.
Dangerous air pollution
In many big cities in Asia, air pollution is dramatic. High population density and many old vehicles contribute to this. Some existing driving bans and the new environmental zone in Singapore could spur a rethink.
Singapore introduces environmental zone
From 2028, old motorbikes will no longer be allowed to drive through Singapore. As an incentive to reduce the number of old two-wheelers, the government is already paying a bonus to all citizens who deregister their motorbikes. The new environmental zone is also intended to reduce the city's air pollution.
City centres soon car-free?
As early as next year, the mayor of Paris wants to make the city centre almost car-free. The city is thus following other metropolises in southern Europe. In Germany, citizens and politicians still oppose strict environmental zones in city centres.