Regional Gov’t Challenges Frankfurt’s Diesel Ban

The German state government of Hesse plans to appeal a court ruling that empowered Frankfurt to impose a partial ban on older cars, Reuters reports.

Germany’s top administrative court ruled in February that municipalities may ban diesels in their city centers to meet air quality standards. The federal government has declined to force carmakers to launch costly retrofit programs for older diesels.

Environmental reports indicate concentrations of nitrogen oxides and fine particulates in Germany’s largest cities have often exceeded four times the allowable limits. Environmentalists argue that remedial steps, such as electric buses and park-and-ride schemes, have been ineffective.

But Hesse Prime Minister Volker Bouffier argues otherwise. He insists that a mix of electric buses, improved bicycle paths and more park-and-ride options would have the same impact on Frankfurt’s air quality as the city’s proposed ban.

Frankfurt plans to initially ban Euro 4 diesels and Euro 1-2 gasoline vehicles beginning next February. The measure would broaden to include Euro 5 diesels in September 2019. Reuters estimates that the planned rules would affect about 25% of the city’s vehicular traffic.