
If you live in a big city, you’ve probably heard of EPZ. Certain neighborhoods or even the entire city you live in may already be affected by EPZs.
We remind you that the low emission zone (formerly known in France as the restricted circulation zone (ZCR) an urban area to which access is reserved for the least polluting vehicles.
In France, access to these zones is determined by air quality certificates, better known as the Crit’Air sticker. The August 2021 law makes the establishment of a ZFE mandatory in all urban areas with a population of more than 150,000 by 31 December 2024. Therefore, they will apply 45 most densely populated agglomerations in the metropolis of France.
🗣 Greater Lyon postpones the application of its ZFE ➡️ “It is a social bomb. It punishes the poorest”, – criticizes Fabien Roussel. “We should allow the French to buy cheap electric cars.” He wants to “make public transport free”. pic.twitter.com/PHSqRKYU5I
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) February 27, 2023
On the road to easing EPZ?
Yes, but in recent months voices have started to rise against these famous ZFEs. According to several politicians, these territories could have catastrophic social effect due to the exclusion of the most modest cities.
The boss of the Communists, Fabien Roussel, who called for the same opinion “come back” in low-emission zones in large agglomerations. He believes that it is a “a social bomb that punishes the poorest”. He’s not the only one who thinks so, as the EELV City Hall in Lyon recently decided to make its ZFE more flexible.
Fabien Roussel calls for increased assistance for electric cars
“This is a social bomb because today ten million motorists who have Crit’Air 3, 4 or 5 vehicles will be banned from driving”Fabien Roussel was outraged on the air of FranceInfo after he welcomed the decision of the Metropolitan of Lyon “postpone for two years” its application.
“We need a moratorium, we need to move these ZFEs, we need to move them in time”he added invitingly “come back” on this device “penalizes the poorest”. “We must be able to add response to social emergencies and response to climate emergencies, we must put the wealth we have at the service of human development, at the service of ecology for all, not punitive ecology”– he specified.
Fabien Roussel recommends “allow the French to buy low-cost electric cars with a higher conversion premium” AND “with cars at a fixed price” and with “Make public transport free”.
Source: Auto Plus

Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.