BMW Board Member for Production Milan Nedeljkovic recently suggested that electric cars should be given preferential treatment in road traffic in order to boost demand. This idea has attracted both supporters and critics. While some see it as a necessary step towards promoting electromobility, others warn of possible negative effects on traffic and the equal treatment of all road users.
Paris is a veritable jungle of low emission zones. With the introduction of the new traffic-calmed zone (ZTL) in the heart of the capital in October 2024, the list of restrictions for motorists will become even longer. There are already ZFE, ZPA and ZPA-Transit, which are intended to regulate traffic in the city. But who will be able to see through them?
The 2024 European Football Championship in Germany is just around the corner and fans from all over the world are eagerly awaiting the event. The venues are spread all over the country, from Munich to Berlin, from Cologne to Hamburg. But not all cities are the same when it comes to environmental zones.
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?
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%.
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.
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.
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.
The world of classic cars is always on the move. On the one hand, there is nostalgia and the desire to keep the history of the automotive industry alive. On the other hand, there is the need to adapt to the constantly changing conditions and regulations regarding the environment and sustainability. A recent development in this context is the new "Villes et villages d'accueil des véhicules d'époque" label, which was launched by the French Federation of Historic Vehicles (FFVE). But what exactly is behind this label and what does it mean for the environmental zones?
Electric mobility in Germany is facing major challenges, as ADAC President Christian Reinicke emphasises in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung. His statements shed a gloomy light on the current situation of electric cars and raise the question of whether the government's ambitious targets are achievable at all.
