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Low Emission Zones in Europe: A Guide for Fleets

October 10, 2024
Sustainable Mobility

With the transportation industry being a substantial source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air quality in urban areas has become an urgent concern. To address this, over 300 cities throughout Europe have implemented low emission zones (LEZ), where the most polluting vehicles are either banned or subject to access fees.

For fleet managers, understanding the location and specific requirements of these LEZs is essential to comply with evolving regulations, minimise penalties, and contribute to a zero-emission future. This guide will cover where LEZs are mainly located within Europe and the potential challenges they present, helping you optimise your fleet operations to meet these demands.

Where are low emission zones in Europe?

France

France currently has 14 LEZs in cities and regions, including Aix-Marseille-Provence, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Nice, Paris, Rouen, Toulouse, and Reims.

In addition to these permanent zones, France also enforces temporary LEZs, known as zones de protection de l'air (ZPAs), during periods of dangerously high air pollution. These emergency restrictions are activated to protect public health when pollution levels are at risk of becoming hazardous.

To manage these zones, vehicles are categorised into six classes based on the Crit'Air certification, which ranges from Crit'Air 0 (zero-emission vehicles) to Crit'Air 5 (high-pollution vehicles). A sticker corresponding to the fleet vehicle’s category must be displayed. Older vehicles with outdated internal combustion engines are marked as ‘unclassified’ under this system.

Spain

Spain has numerous LEZs, or zonas de bajas emisiones (ZBEs), which restrict older, more polluting vehicles from entering certain areas. Cities with LEZs include Alcobendas, Almeria, Avila, Badalona, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cordoba, Cornellà de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, and Estepona.

The Spanish government introduced this initiative under its Climate Change and Energy Transition Law, which mandates all municipalities with over 50,000 residents to establish a ZBE.

To enter an ZBE, fleet vehicles must have a windscreen sticker and meet specific emission standards. For instance, in Barcelona, pre-Euro 2 gasoline vehicles and pre-Euro 4 diesel vehicles are banned on weekdays from 7 am to 8 pm. Diesel vehicles with Euro 4 or Euro 5 certification are allowed, but limited to a maximum parking time of 2 hours.

Germany

Germany was among the first countries to introduce LEZs, known as ‘Umweltzonen’, or environmental zones. There are currently around 58 LEZs across more than 70 cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Hanover, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Mannheim.

Many German cities operate a zoned traffic management system that restricts access to certain vehicles, such as diesel vehicles registered after 2006 and gasoline vehicles registered after 1993. Although, local regulations may differ in terms of which vehicles are restricted.

Like in France and Spain, fleet vehicles entering these zones must show a certification sticker, which can be purchased from accredited retailers to avoid fines.

Italy

In Italy, LEZs are known as Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL) and are widespread throughout the country, with over a hundred cities having them. Cities with ZTLs include Milan, Florence, Rome, Naples, Bari, and Turin.

Distinct from other European countries, Italy’s ZTLs are not always based solely on environmental criteria. While reducing pollution is a primary goal, preserving cultural areas is also a key consideration in their implementation. Many ZTLs regulate traffic based on time of day, fleet vehicle type, and permit status, and are not exclusively focused on emissions.

The management of ZTLs vary widely across the country, with different cities having their own rules. For example, Milan and Palermo have combined LEZ and urban road tolling schemes, while Bolzano is the only area that requires a certification sticker for access to its LEZs, unlike other ZTLs in Italy.

The UK

In the UK, LEZs and clean air zones are present in cities including Newcastle, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Bath, Bristol, Oxford, London, Bradford, Sheffield, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee.

London has both an LEZ and a more stringent Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The LEZ primarily targets HGVs that do not meet specific emissions standards, while the ULEZ applies to a broader range of fleet vehicles such as LGVs (or LCVs). In the ULEZ, petrol vehicles registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles manufactured before 2015 are subject to daily charges if they do not meet emissions standards.

In Glasgow, the LEZ was fully introduced in 2023 after a phased rollout that began in 2018.

How fleets can overcome LEZ challenges in Europe

LEZs are a major step towards achieving net-zero emissions in European cities, but they present significant challenges for fleet management, like increased operational costs alongside the need for vehicle replacement, and they are only growing in number. Fortunately, advanced fleet management solutions offer effective ways to plan for and navigate these challenges.

While transitioning to EVs is an ideal option, it may not be financially practical for all fleets. However, integrated fleet management software and hardware provide a viable alternative. These solutions help fleet managers optimise routes to reduce emissions, conduct preventative maintenance to enhance fuel efficiency and control costs, as well as train employees in driver safety and eco-driving techniques.

Compliance with LEZs is integral for maintaining productivity, which is why we at MICHELIN Connected Fleet have developed fleet management solutions to support this aim. Our solutions not only contribute to a more sustainable transport sector, but also offer comprehensive benefits for fleets.

Additionally, our OEM partnerships simplify OEM integration by ensuring compatibility with your existing systems, meaning you can collect and analyse data effortlessly without needing extra hardware. To learn more about how we can support your fleet, be sure to make an enquiry into our services today.
MICHELIN Connected Fleet

Written by MICHELIN Connected Fleet

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