Electromobility currently seems to be the industry's irrefutable future. But while companies like Volkswagen are forging ahead, other groups such as BMW, Skoda, General Motors and above all Mercedes are changing their strategy. Instead of focussing exclusively on electric drives, they are once again focusing more on customer requirements and are even planning to develop the diesel further.
The Euro 7 emissions standard recently adopted by the EU Parliament is a seemingly positive step towards cleaner air. But on closer inspection, the agreement turns out to be a deceptive illusion that offers little more than the current Euro 6 standard.
The end of diesel in Munich seems to have been heralded. The Bavarian Administrative Court (VGH) has ruled that Euro 5 diesels will no longer be allowed to enter Munich's low emission zone. A step that should significantly improve air quality in the city, but what does this mean for the 70,000 or so drivers affected?
Belgium has drastically tightened its low emission zones for vehicles in major cities such as Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent since 2022, with further restrictions planned for 2025. Anyone driving in these cities must expect a fine of up to 350 euros. This regulation applies not only to local drivers, but also to foreign drivers. In all three cities, there is an environmental zone in which certain vehicles are not allowed to drive. Cameras monitor compliance with the rules by recording and comparing the licence plates of vehicles.
The discussion about sustainable mobility has recently focussed increasingly on e-fuels. E-fuels, synthetic fuels obtained by reversing the combustion process, have the potential to offer a climate-friendly alternative to electric drives. However, their environmental compatibility and energy balance still need to be investigated further.
Austrian Post has announced that it will switch its entire lorry fleet to HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) by mid-2024. A bold step that makes the company a pioneer in the industry. The progress is undoubtedly impressive, but also raises some questions.
In July last year, the people of Munich breathed a sigh of relief when Mayor Dieter Reiter announced that the EU limit value for nitrogen dioxide would only be exceeded in two places. A driving ban for Euro 5 diesel vehicles was therefore suspended for the time being from October 2023. But now the discussion about a diesel driving ban seems to have been reignited.
In recent years, the number of cars registered in the Eurometropolis has steadily increased. However, for the first time since 2015, the region recorded a significant decline between 2022 and 2023. The number of cars fell by 2.83%, according to figures from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. This decline is particularly noticeable in Strasbourg.
There has recently been some good news for travellers in Strasbourg. The President of the Eurometropolis has decided to suspend all fines in connection with the ZFE zone, citing the improvement in air quality as the reason. Pia Imbs explained: "There will be no further fines for the low emission zone. The air quality has improved. Despite this decision, the low emission zone will remain in place for educational reasons.
Since the beginning of the year, the city of Amsterdam has banned heavy buses and lorries in the city centre. Heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are banned within the canal belt (S100). Next year, there will also be up to 30 zero-emission zones in the Netherlands. Even if transitional periods still apply for some time, the Netherlands is on a fast track out of combustion mobility.
