German cities want to avoid “nightmare” diesel driving bans

The looming driving bans on polluting diesel cars in Germany’s inner cities are “a nightmare for hundreds of thousands of diesel owners as well as for politicians,” but a ruling by Germany’s administrative court due today (22 February) could force city authorities to introduce them, Wilfried Eckl-Dorna writes for manager-magazin.de. Some cities, however, try to come up with alternative measures to curb air pollution, and to avoid having to ban thousands of private and commercial vehicles from city centres, he says. Germany’s capital, Berlin, for example, wants to introduce a scrap bonus for old diesel taxis; extend support to small and medium-sized companies that want to convert their vehicle fleet to electric; and expand its bicycle infrastructure, Eckl-Dorna says. Also, most other major cities, such as Hamburg, Munich, or Stuttgart, plan to electrify their public transportation fleet; expand their e-car infrastructure; or even install fume-absorbing moss walls along major thoroughfares. However, environmental organisations doubt that this will suffice to prevent driving bans in the German capital or elsewhere. NGO Environmental Action Germany (DUH) says that “Berlin will hardly be able to avoid bans.”

Read the article in German here.

See the CLEW factsheet Diesel driving bans in Germany – The Q & A for background.

Please note: The Clean Energy Wire will publish an article on the ruling later today.