Stockholm, the Swedish capital, is set to take a groundbreaking step in the global movement to phase out gas and diesel vehicles. A ban on such vehicles is scheduled to be implemented in a 20-block area surrounding the city’s financial district starting in 2025, Bloomberg reports.
This central district also encompasses Stockholm’s primary shopping destinations. The ban will exclusively permit the entry of “electric cars, some hybrid trucks, and fuel cell vehicles,” according to regulations set to be announced mid-week as reported by SVT.
Stockholm’s proposal outpaces similar efforts in cities like Paris, Athens, and Madrid, all of which have also committed to banning diesel cars. Meanwhile, cities like London have established low-emission zones, requiring drivers of older combustion engine vehicles to pay daily fees for city center access.
The impact of this plan on electric vehicle (EV) sales in Sweden remains uncertain, particularly in light of the current cost-of-living challenges affecting EV purchases. Mobility Sweden recently adjusted its 2023 forecast for new EV registrations from 40% to 35% of total registrations.
Other cities around the world have also taken noteworthy steps to combat vehicle emissions. Brussels, for instance, restricted non-essential and non-local car traffic on ten central city streets in December. London expanded its ultra-low emission zone in August, presenting one of the world’s most ambitious vehicle emissions policies. However, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak postponed the government’s plan to prohibit the sale of new petrol and diesel cars until 2035.
In Oslo, Norway’s capital, celebrated for its high adoption of EVs, the municipal environment agency recommended introducing a zero-emission zone in the city center. Initially targeting heavy transport and trucks in 2025, the plan would extend to cars in 2027.
Lars Stromgren, a local lawmaker overseeing traffic policy, stated, “We want to create a better living environment for the people who live and work here.”
