The subject is on everyone’s lips in Hamburg. On the banks of the Elbe, two streets have just been closed to the circulation of diesel vehicles. But given the number of exceptions admitted, the measure appears for many quite symbolic. Elsewhere in Europe, other cities have or will put in place more significant bans.
Northern Europe as a pioneer
Northern Europe is at the forefront of anti-diesel combat. In Denmark, the major cities of the country have established for 10 years restricted traffic areas excluding vehicles of less than Euro 4 standard. In Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus or Aalborg, the police can even immobilize the machine of a recalcitrant if he does not want to pay the fine. Copenhagen even plans to ban diesel as of January 1, 2019.
In Norway, Oslo has already banned the use of diesel vehicles on pollution days. The city also plans to ban from 2019 all cars, diesel or gasoline, its downtown.
While in Amsterdam, taxis or diesel buses over ten years no longer have the chapter, other Dutch cities – such as Rotterdam, Maastricht or Utrecht – have decided to stop the circulation of diesel vehicles older than 10 years. more than seventeen years old.
The South of the Continent
In Belgium, the initiatives are more recent. In the Brussels region, the old diesel is persona non grata since early January. Euro 0 and Euro 1 vehicles – those manufactured until 1996 – can no longer circulate in the area. To ensure the effectiveness of the measurement in the Brussels region, controls are constantly carried out by automatic cameras.
Southern Europe is starting to take anti-diesel measures as well. In Italy, the Lombard capital has banned all old diesel from its historic city center for over a year. In the viewfinder, all vehicles Euro 4 and under, that is to say, more than fourteen years old. The city even intends to become completely “diesel-free” by 2030. Rome wants to do the same by 2024, to preserve its statues of pollution.
In Barcelona, in the country of Gaudi, diesel before 2004 can not circulate in the city center in case of pollution. And they will not be able to ride the week from December 2019, and not at all a year later. Madrid wants to do the same in 2025, just like Athens.
London and Paris in a scattered order
What is the approach of Paris and London? In the British capital, gasoline and diesel vehicles before 2005 are required to check in to the city center. They have to pay a “T-Charge” of just over 10 euros. Paris has taken a step ahead of its rival by committing to drive diesel cars registered before 2005 from 2019 and then those before 2011 in 2022 . Under the leadership of Anne Hidalgo, the capital is also committed to prohibit diesel engines in 2024 and by 2030 all thermal engines.