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Low-emissions zones were rolled out in cities across Europe on the first working days of 2008, with aim of cleaning-up air pollution and meeting rigorous EU emission limits.
Milan, Berlin, Cologne and Hanover all introduced an ‘eco-tag’ system at the beginning of year, which aims to ban the most polluting cars from the city centre. Bochum, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt will introduce similar schemes later this year.
Cars entering these eco-zones are fitted with a windscreen-mounted badge in either red amber or green, depending on the emissions level of the engine.
The entry regulations will be progressively tightened until only the ‘green’ tagged vehicles will be allowed in the city centres from January 2010.
The Milan scheme is similar, but also includes a daily road toll fee for all but the cleanest cars equipped with Euro IV-compliant engines. The fee ranges from £1.50 to £7.50 depending on emissions levels.
The London Low Emission zone, which goes live on 4th February, is massively more ambitious, covering the whole of Greater London. It aims to drive off the road the most polluting commercial vehicles with £200-per day charges and fines in excessive of £1000.
Hilton Holloway
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