Toulouse. Everything you need to know about the ZFE, which comes into effect on Tuesday
By Guilhem Pouiol
Published on
The Low Emission Zone (ZFE), a system whose purpose is to reduce air pollution in the Pink City, comes into force on Tuesday March 1, 2022. As of today, certain polluting vehicles can no longer circulate within an area including a large part of Toulouse. The ZFE will be applied gradually until 2024. Eventually, approximately 42,000 vehicles, i.e. 16.15% of the vehicle fleet, should be affected by the ban. Here is everything you need to know about the implementation of the ZFE in Toulouse.
The subject concerned by the ZFE
The ZFE will apply throughout Toulouse but also in a small part of Tournefeuille and Colomiers. That represents 72 square kilometres. The area will be delimited by red and black panels.
Vehicles affected by the traffic ban
At first, only the vans, vans and trucks received a Crit’air 5 sticker are not authorized to circulate in the ZFE. This represents approximately 1% of the Toulouse rolling stock. From January 1, 2023, these same vehicles with a Crit’air 4 sticker will also be excluded from the ZFE.
On January 1, 2023, all motorized vehicles certified Crit’air 4 and 5 will be prohibited. Finally, on January 1, 2024, all motorized vehicles up to Crit’air 3 will no longer have the possibility of circular. This means that from this date, only Crit’air 1 and 2 certified vehicles as well as electric and hydrogen vehicles will be authorized to circulate in the ZFE.
Punishments
Drivers of unauthorized vehicles circulating in the EPZ are exposed to fixed fine ranging from 68 € (light vehicles) to €135 (heavy vehicles).
Permits
Here is the list of local adapted specific to the ZFE which apply for a period of three years:
– Refrigerated vehicles
– Construction vehicles
– VASP (Specially Fitted Self-Propelled Vehicles) or VTSU (ex: Household waste dumpsters, armored van, workshop vehicles, etc.)
– Tanker trucks
– Transport of live animals
– Market supply vehicles, non-sedentary traders, food producers coming to deliver their production or supply markets within the perimeter of the ZFE
– Vehicles of moving professionals
– Collection vehicles
– Vehicles assigned to the transport of hazardous materials
– Vehicles that cannot be replaced due to their characteristics
– Vehicles of structures that can justify Solidarity Company of Social Utility approval
From occasional occasional can also be assigned the list is available on the Toulouse Métropole website.
The aids put in place to change vehicles
Toulouse Métropole has set up financial aid for individuals, professionals and associations wishing to acquire a low-polluting vehicle. They are allocated subject to means testing and can reach up to 5000 €. To be able to benefit from it, it is necessary to file a file on the Toulouse Métropole site.
The French State also offers two aid schemes for individuals wishing to acquire a low-emission vehicle. it’s about the conversion bonus and ecological bonus. An online simulator, which allows you to test your eligibility for the conversion bonus, is available on the government website. It is possible to combine the conversion bonus and the ecological bonus with aid from Toulouse Métropole.
Vignette Crit’air instructions for use
The Crit’Air sticker (air quality certificate) classifies vehicles according to their polluting emissions of fine particles and nitrogen oxides. It is mandatory for circulars in low mobility emission zones (ZFE-m) granted by local authorities or for circulars when the prefect introduces differentiated traffic during pollution episodes.
.
Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow Actu Toulouse in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.