Between the “social divide” and the “environmental virtues” of low-emission zones, French people and elected officials continue to be divided, sometimes even on the same political side. The government and municipalities are shifting responsibilities to each other under conditions of compliance, while Europe continues to push for high environmental targets.
However, ZFEs in France haven’t really had the wind in their sails in recent months. For example, Métropole de Lyon recently decided not to extend its ZFE to other peripheral cities, and recently Métropole du Grand Paris, the largest ZFE in France, postponed again the ban on Crit’Air 3 vehicles after having postponed the measure several times.
Postponed to the beginning of 2025
This ban was supposed to take effect from July 2022, then it was postponed to July 2023, so far theoretical application in early 2025immediately after the 2024 Olympic Games. This ban affects approximately 380,000 vehicles in Ile-de-France.
But why did the Métropole du Grand Paris make this decision, knowing that it is the ZFE “model” in France with the most ambitious application schedule? The chosen ones refer to the fact that it is so “materially impossible” implement this event this summer.
According to them and as stated above, measures coming from the government are now considered insufficientwith the uncertainty of zero rate loan guarantee and automated controls in these famous ZFEs.
Is the measure still too restrictive?
These famous automatic checks in EPZ should “will be implemented in the second half of 2024” according to Christophe Bechu, Minister of Environmental Transition. It should also be noted that the decree published on July 7, 2023 adapts the Road Traffic Regulations to allow municipal police officers to impose sanctions on vehicles polluting the environment traveling on highways that cross the ZZZ.
Remember that the Greater Paris ZFE has already banned unclassified vehicles and Crit’Air 5 in July 2019, followed by Crit’Air 4 in June 2021. Crit’Air 3 sticker ban planned for early 2025 applies to petrol vehicles registered before 1Er January 2006 and diesel engines registered before 1Er January 2011.
Read also:
• ZFE: According to some, they will promote the automotive industry
• ZFE radars: how to spot them accurately?
• ZFE: What is the future impact on our way of life?
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.