Frankfurt to Ban Older Diesels, Gasoline Cars

A German administrative court has ruled that Frankfurt’s efforts to improve air quality must include a ban on old diesel and gasoline vehicles in the city center.

The court ordered the city to begin the ban in February for diesels that meet Euro 4 standards or less, and gasoline vehicles that meet Euro 1 and Euro 2 regulations. Frankfurt will also be required to bar Euro 5-spec diesels beginning in September 2019.

Reuters says the ban will affect about 25% of cars registered in and around Frankfurt. The order also requires the city to deploy more electric buses, raise parking fees and add park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of town.

The ruling was the result of a petition from German environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe. DUH successfully argued that other steps taken by Frankfurt would not be sufficient to bring the city into regulatory compliance.

Opponents of such measures had contended that only the federal government could impose such measures. But last February Germany’s top administrative court ruled that cities have the right to impose their own bans if necessary to clean up their air.