The city of Stockholm will ban petrol and diesel vehicles from entering some key areas of the city centre. The rule will come into force from 2025 with the aim of improving air quality and reducing traffic noise. The plan, presented on October 10, envisions a “peripheral district” covering 20 blocks in the center of Sweden’s capital, where luxury shopping streets and buildings used for some of the country’s most expensive offices are concentrated.
The initiative is backed by the Green Party, which is part of the coalition of left-wing and environmental parties that govern Stockholm City Council. In this way, politicians hope to speed up the purchase of electric cars instead of combustion cars. Greens’ deputy mayor for transport, Lars Stromgren, said in a statement: “The air in Stockholm today causes lung diseases in children and premature deaths in the elderly. This is absolutely unacceptable.” said.
Considering that hybrid vehicles will be allowed through, the perimeter zone will only allow the circulation of fully electric vehicles, with the exception of larger pickup trucks. There are also genuine exemptions for ambulances, police vehicles and cars whose driver or passenger is certified to be disabled. The perimeter zone should be further expanded after initial implementation. The plan sparked criticism from car companies, which felt it was excessive. According to them, city administrators need to invest more in electric charging points, creating a voluntary change.
From 2035, the sale of combustion engine cars will be banned in the European Union, but there is very strong competition to secure market shares. European manufacturers are pursuing the sector’s technological development but are at a less advanced stage compared to Asian and US rivals such as Tesla, which are heavily subsidized by their home states. Since China is currently the most developed country in component production, the entire European industry depends on the Asian giant.
Continue reading Today.it
Source: Today IT

Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.