Name of the environmental zone: Environmental Zone LEZ Barcelona/City - Spain
Date of entry into effect of the zone: 23-10-2018
Type of environmental zone: Permanent, from Monday to Friday between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm
Not allowed to drive (temporarily): Information currently unavailable
Not allowed to drive (permanently): For L1-7 types: Euro standards 0-1. For M1, N1 petrol types: Euro standards 0-2. For M1, N1 diesel types: Euro standards 0-3. For M2, M3, N2, N3 petrol/diesel types: Euro standards 0-3.
Sticker/ Registration / Request: Entry only with sticker or registration.
Fines: 200 € - 1800 €
Area/extension of the environmental zone: The area of the environmental zone of the city of Barcelona includes the urban centre within the B-20 and B-10 motorways, the socalled “rondas”. The environmental zone of Barcelona is concentrated on the municipality of Barcelona, except for the districts of Vallvidrera, Tibidabo and Llanuras and the industrial area south of the B-10 motorway. The environmental zone also includes the surrounding municipalities of Barcelona: Sant Adrià de Besòs, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat und Cornellà de Llobregat.
Contact of the environmental zone and exceptions: Information currently unavailable
Exemptions: Information currently unavailable
Environmental zone ZBE
Do I need stickers or registrations?
To enter the low emission zone, each vehicle concerned needs either a registration (foreigners) or a Distintivo-Ambiental (Spanish vehicles). Otherwise, a fine of 200 euros to 1800 euros must be expected.
What is a ZBE zone?
The ZBE zones (Zona Baixes Emissions), are fixed zones that can be identified by traffic signs. They are designed to reduce air pollution in Spanish cities quickly and permanently.
A permanent ZBE zone is a zone in which permanent and fixed traffic restrictions apply, such as speed limits and other restrictions, and in which entry is regulated by a system of stickers. Furthermore, in the course of the next few years, stickers may be gradually removed from the system, so that vehicles with these stickers will no longer be able to enter the zones.
How do I recognize the low emission zone?
The beginning and end of the environmental zones are marked with signs. This shows a red circle as a prohibition sign with the remark Zona Baixes Emissions" (low emission zone). In addition, there is also a reference to the Distintivo-Ambiental stickers and which entrances are allowed.
In our Green Zones App we have a detailed map of each low emission zone. So you can easily see the boundaries and avoid penalties.
Are there other low emission zones in France?
Spain has a total of 7 different environmental zones. These differ in ZBE zones, ZEZ zones and ZPA zones: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valladolid, Valencia.
In our Green Zones App we have gathered together all the low emission zones in Europe and presented them clearly.
Good to know...
All current driving bans and further information are available in our Green-Zones App.
Citizens call for the end of combustion cars
A good two-thirds of citizens in Europe would like to see the end of petrol and diesel cars. Environmental zones and the e-car boom seem to be causing a change in thinking, with more and more people wanting to live in clean and quiet cities with green spaces and car-free zones.
New environmental zones against microplastics?
Abrasion from tyres, brakes and the road creates a lot of microplastics. This not only accumulates in soil and water, but is also released into the air, where it is absorbed by humans through the respiratory tract. So in addition to particulate matter, microplastics must also be regulated as quickly as possible. Could there soon be environmental zones to combat the small plastic particles?
What is the most polluting means of travel?
The future belongs to the train. It has the best CO2 balance. But the aeroplane is no longer as polluting as we thought. In fact, the car is in last place.
Whether electric or hydrogen - there is a lack of infrastructure
Hydrogen vehicles are popular in California. At the filling stations, however, this leads to waiting times of about 45 minutes. Similar to the situation with e-cars in Europe, the infrastructure is not keeping up and is slowing down the mobility turnaround.
Grace period for diesel in Germany
Strict emission tests for diesel vehicles in Germany will be postponed for two years. Actually, the new measurement procedures were announced for 2021. The German Environmental Aid criticises that the Ministry of Transport is doing too little against dirty diesels on the roads to protect the car industry.
Microplastics: How tyres harm the environment
Microplastics and fine dust are released into the environment in large quantities through the abrasion of tyres and thus enter soils and water bodies. The effects of microplastics on local ecosystems are still poorly understood. Experts are calling for better collection technology and stricter traffic concepts to reduce environmental pollution.
Scrappage scheme: France backs bicycles
French people who trade in their combustion engine for an electric bicycle will in future receive €2,500 from the state. This is not intended to make vehicles greener in the transport transition, but to reduce their overall number. A similar push in Germany fell on deaf ears from politicians.
European charging network inadequate
By 2025, there should be one million charging points for electric cars in Europe. This is the only way to ensure the targeted nationwide coverage for e-cars when travelling across the continent. The EU Court of Auditors sees this goal in jeopardy.
Hamburg to become Germany's largest car-free zone?
An initiative wants to turn the Hamburg district of Eimsbüttel into a "children's room on the street". Pedestrians are to have priority, and cars will only be allowed to drive at 10 km/h. This is how the district plans its own driving bans.
A brief sigh of relief for internal combustion engines
After the new Euro 7 standard was already seen as the de facto end of the internal combustion engine, it could now be made much more industry-friendly after all. Current measurements by the ADAC also give the car industry reason to rejoice. Due to the tightening of regulations in the European environmental zones, it is nevertheless likely that the internal combustion engine will be phased out in the foreseeable future.