The Lyon metropolitan area is banning Crit’Air 3 vehicles in its low-emission zone (ZFE) from January 2025, pushing for increased adoption of green modes of transport.
From the January 1, 2025the Lyon metropolitan area will ban vehicles with the Crit’Air 3 sticker and above in its low-emission zone (ZFE). This measure aims to reduce air pollution and promote more environmentally friendly modes of transport, affecting around 60,000 additional vehicles.
The municipalities of Lyon, Caluire-et-Cuire, Villeurbanne, Bron, and Vénissieux will be particularly affected, strongly impacting workers who travel by car. Electric vehicles are encouraged as an alternative, with a growing network of charging stations, although challenges remain in terms of cost and infrastructure.
This ban marks a key step towards more sustainable mobility and will force motorists to adopt greener transport solutions.
Crit’Air 3 banned from circulation
The Lyon metropolitan area is taking a turn in its urban mobility strategy by tightening the rules of its Low Emission Zone (LEZ). From January 1, 2025, vehicles displaying the Crit’Air 3 sticker and above will no longer be welcome on the streets of the Lyon ZFE. A measure that is part of an approach to reduce air pollution and which aims to boost the adoption of more ecological modes of transport. With this ban, This means that nearly 60,000 additional vehicles will be immobilizedor a quarter of the entire vehicle fleet currently present in the Lyon ZFE. The municipalities of Lyon, Caluire-et-Cuire, Villeurbanne, Bron, and Vénissieux are particularly concerned. In the latter, more than a third of vehicles will be affected!
According to INSEE, no fewer than 200,000 workers flock to the ZFE every day to work there.and two-thirds of them do so by car. The ban on Crit’Air 3 is therefore shaping up to be a real headache for these workers, who will have to reassess their modes of transport. For residents, who are already mostly fans of public transport, the transition could be less disruptive, but it will still require some changes.
The electric car as a solution
Electric vehicles are emerging as a choice alternative to the ban on thermal vehicles. The latter enjoy unrestricted access to the ZFE thanks to the absence of a Crit’Air sticker and actively participate in reducing air pollution in urban areas. The Lyon metropolitan area is encouraging their adoption by expanding its network of public charging stations, which already had more than 500 points in 2023.
However, the electrification of the Lyon vehicle fleet is not yet a done deal. The cost of acquiring the electric vehicles remains highdespite government support. In addition, the charging infrastructure needs to be strengthened, especially for residents of dense urban areas where private parking is limited. The metropolis will also have to invest in the electricity grid to meet the increase in electricity demand. The ban on Crit’Air 3 in Lyon is an important step towards more sustainable mobility.
This transition will force motorists to review their travel habits and embrace greener modes of transport.. Before concluding, let us recall that Crit’Air 3 vehicles correspond to diesel cars registered between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010 inclusive. This vignette also includes petrol cars registered between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2005 inclusive.
So, as soon as this measure comes into force, diesel cars from before 2011 will not be able to circulate within this ZFE, just like petrol cars from before 2005. The noose is tightening for thermal cars…
Source: www.autoplus.fr
