Electric cars could soon be affected by the restrictions imposed by environmental zones. Due to their high particulate matter production, the OECD demands that the emissions of electric cars be taken into account in driving bans. Manufacturers like Daimler would then have to switch to significantly smaller models or filter systems.
In order to reduce air pollution, stickers and registrations can only be issued to vehicles that comply with the specified emission standards. However, there are various exceptions to the sticker and registration requirement. As with all other rules in the environmental zones, these vary greatly from country to country.
Different stickers for different countries - in the border region between France and Germany this is currently particularly annoying. From the beginning of next year, Strasbourg will introduce a permanent low emission zone in which at least the French category 4 sticker will be required. German commuters will also have to prepare themselves for this.
Tesla wants to open its charging stations to all vehicles. The charging stations of the American e-car pioneer are far superior to other models in terms of both number of units and technology. Thanks to Tesla, the network of charging stations would take an enormous leap forward. It is not yet clear what the company will get out of this and how it will be technically possible to implement it.
By 2023, many cities in Spain will have to introduce low emission zones by law. Both domestic and foreign vehicles are affected. A new traffic sign is now to mark the environmental zones in a uniform and clearly recognisable way.
Entering the European environmental zones without a sticker and registration can be expensive. Here is an overview of the fines and why it pays to enter the environmental zones well informed and with the correct sticker.
The mayor of Paris has been declaring war on cars for some time now. The environmental zone is becoming stricter and stricter and will soon prohibit even the newest diesel vehicles from entering. In addition, more and more car-free zones are being created and the expansion of cycle paths and footpaths is taking more and more space away from vehicles. Now almost all of Paris is to become a 30 km/h zone.
Often citizens stand in the way of projects for fewer cars in city centres. Only when the positive effects of such projects become apparent do opinions change. For example, city tolls and car-free zones have already been introduced in many European cities. Now citizens are more and more convinced. In Germany, politics is often too hesitant.
The major truck manufacturers have joined forces to build a comprehensive charging network for trucks in Europe. Since politicians are only making very slow progress with improving the infrastructure, they are now taking the challenge into their own hands. This is urgently needed, because soon there will be no more trucks with combustion engines in some environmental zones.
In order to keep a closer eye on air quality and to be able to improve it at critical locations, the parcel service provider DPD is now also measuring air quality in Hamburg. If the data reveal many places with high air pollution, an environmental zone in the Hanseatic city could also come back into the discussion.
