Stockholm: Low emission zone complicates bus transport - and tourism?

Next year, Stockholm plans to introduce a Class 3 Low Emission Zone in the Old Town and other parts of the city centre. Only electric and fuel cell vehicles - as well as plug-in hybrids and petrol cars that meet Euro 6 emission requirements - will then be allowed to drive in the low emission zone area. In doing so, the authorities will proceed gradually and will not complete the introduction until 2026.  

However, this tightening, which is supposed to benefit air quality and the environment, could have serious consequences for the transport sector and the city's economy in general. As, in effect, the Swedish city's plans could mean a total ban on tourist buses at Stockholm's main tourist destinations. Regardless of whether they are public, regular or tourist buses, the rules will apply to all bus transport and will primarily only allow buses powered by electricity or hydrogen. Gas buses and plug-in hybrid buses with Euronorm 6 will be allowed to drive in Stockholm, at least for the first phase after the rules come into force.  

However, the city, and especially bus companies, are still far from being prepared for the stricter environmental regulations and the necessary transition to cleaner forms of propulsion. None of the vehicles currently in use or about to be purchased would meet the requirements of Low Emission Zone 3 for tourist and contract transport - explains the Swedish Bus Association. Only 6.5 per cent of the approximately 200,000 journeys made annually in the area could remain in service after the introduction of the Class 3 environmental zones. Therefore, until the fleet is brought into compliance, a continuation of the Stockholm plan would be a hard blow to the industry, both to the tourist sector and to Stockholm as a tourist destination in general. 

At the same time - warns the Swedish Bus Association in a letter to the Stockholm Transport Authority - it is to be expected that private car traffic will increase due to the tightened bans that will also affect buses. If buses are no longer able to reach tourist destinations, they will become much less attractive. This would then lead to a change in the mobility behaviour of citizens, with more and more people opting to travel in their own cars. One measure, namely the tightening of the environmental zone, which is supposed to reduce traffic and the pollution it causes, but could ultimately lead to an increase in car traffic on the roads. At least that is the prediction of industry experts until the sector succeeds in switching to the more environmentally friendly vehicles desired by the new zone.  

Will Stockholm reverse its steps? Or will the city go ahead with the plan, confident that the environmental benefits will not be overlooked once the new low emission zones are fully implemented? 

Nor should we forget all the low emission zones already active in Sweden - as well as the rest of Europe. As always, all information is available on our website and in the Green Zones app.