The writing is on the wall for German diesel car makers after this ruling. If bans or other rules are imposed on diesels in German cities, sales are bound to take another hit – on top of the recent VW ‘dieselgate’ fiasco.
Germany’s top administrative court has ruled that it is legal for cities to ban diesel cars, reports DW.com.
The government opposes the bans, but is under pressure from the EU to do more to combat air pollution.
Germany’s Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig ruled on Tuesday that cities may be permitted to put driving bans in place for diesel vehicles.
The decision concerned two earlier court rulings in Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, the capital cities of the German states of Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, where air pollution massively exceeds allowable levels. The environmental and consumer watchdog Environmental Action Germany (DUH) took both cities to court, saying they hadn’t done enough to combat emissions.
The court in Stuttgart said driving bans were the “most effective” means to improve air quality and safeguard health in urban areas, while the Düsseldorf court found the bans had to be “seriously examined.”
Continued here.
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BBC News: Diesel ban approved for German cities to cut pollution
Automotive News Europe: German court ruling likely to accelerate diesel’s demise
Tallbloke's Talkshop 
Wonder how much pollution they could avoid if they just banned people?
DW: The death of diesel? What the German court verdict could mean
While any eventual diesel bans will be limited to certain vehicles, places and scenarios at first, this ruling could ultimately prove to be a big nail in the coffin of a fuel that has powered Germans and Europeans for the best part of a century.
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Pressure will also come from the European Commission. Almost 70 German cities heavily exceed EU NOx limits, with Cologne, Stuttgart and Munich the worst offenders. Germany needs to lower these levels fast, or else it will face huge EU fines. With diesel-powered vehicles accounting for more than 40 percent of total German NOx pollution, they will bear the immediate brunt of any emissions-reducing measures.
http://www.dw.com/en/the-death-of-diesel-what-the-german-court-verdict-could-mean/a-42758085
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Any bans wouldn’t apply to latest standard Euro 6 engines it seems.
I’m sure those lowlifes at “Client Earth” will be watching this suicide with great interest.
We need to organise to stop similar stupidly happening here.
I’m sure there is enough expertise on this blog.
Industry leaders were stunned. Daimler declined to comment, but other carmakers expressed bewilderment. Volkswagen “is unable to comprehend” the ruling, a company statement said.
Germany wanted to be a world leader. Now it looks as if they will end up as a world laughingstock. First uncontrollable unreliable wind and solar power generation destabilising the grid and now banning cars because the green blob doesn’t like them.
The anti CO2 zealots and their push for diesel is now being recognised for the folly that it is.
Real and serious pollution from toxic diesels in our cities has forced reality onto the bureaucrats in Brussels.
Something had to be done.
It is sad that so few know the difference between carbon dioxide and carbon.
Luckily Mazda is on the case with a new generation of lean-burn petrol engines.
Hmmmp, it’s awfully all very well – THEY can do what they like, but it’s the Knock-on-effect to the rest of us: Having saved up for a Diesel Campervan without electronics to go camping around the world in my old age, – as the German Docu makers like to show us how to, I am going to be banned BANNED from visiting many great Cities. I never intended driving up their High street with it, but as with London, it’s all to easy to get sucked into somewhere you don’t wanna be – but you go with the flow to remain Stress-free. ….. etc etc So now are WE to BAN those same tourists to the UK with their CO2 producing Petrol Cars when/because we are being penalised for producing too much CO2 ?? Oh and electric cars aren’t catered for , properly. – huh – have you seen the latest Electricity Prodn in UK Beastie fae the East panicked users to increase consumption to Redline Demand and COAL was at the Limit followed by Nuclear, ….. and Weendmills ? Faffing in the wind at only 1/3rd of their total capability depending on their Site – Calm or Excessive winds.. …………see http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk
Euro 6 diesels (Sep. 2015 onwards) shouldn’t be affected by any new rules.
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Environmental Action Germany: scourge of German carmakers
The group known by its acronym DUH has led the charge to hold Germany’s treasured carmakers accountable for air pollution — earning it the hatred of the auto industry and the adulation of environmentalists.
http://www.dw.com/en/environmental-action-germany-scourge-of-german-carmakers/a-42753107
“Euro 6 diesels (Sep. 2015 onwards) shouldn’t be affected by any new rules.”
On the basis of no evidence whatsoever, why do I have a cynical little voice in my head telling me that the German car industry has just cooked up a scheme to make everyone buy a new car?
Once diesels get branded as a public health hazard, sales will suffer – as they already are doing.
http://europe.autonews.com/article/20170503/ANE/170509919/german-sales-fall-8-as-diesel-share-declines
http://europe.autonews.com/article/20180228/ANE/180229797/german-court-ruling-likely-to-accelerate-diesels-demise
Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles sold in the UK have risen for the first time on record, as the Government’s ongoing drive against diesel hits.
SMMT figures showed the average CO2 emissions figure for new cars rose in 2017, as buyers shun diesels, fearing measures against them that will lead to higher taxes and running costs – and steep depreciation.
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EU restrictions dictate that the industry needs to reduce average vehicle emissions outputs to 95g/km by 2021 – requiring year-on-year minimum declines of 5.9 per cent – meaning this latest report is a huge blow to meeting the new standards.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-5439951/Car-exhaust-CO2-emissions-rIse-time-2-decades.html
No chance of meeting that EU target.
They are caught between a rock and a hard place, Oldbrew..
Serves the moronic ignoramuses right.
Berliners react to diesel’s possible demise
German diesel vehicle owners accept that diesel is on its way out. But they’re enraged that politicians haven’t forced emissions-cheating carmakers to retrofit existing diesel cars with proper pollution abatement kits.
http://www.dw.com/en/berliners-react-to-diesels-possible-demise/a-42769090
Diesel ban? Cities across the world move to ban diesel cars from their centres
1 Mar, 2018
With regulators plotting against diesel cars, we examine the facts behind diesel’s fall from grace and ask what the future holds
Cities across Europe are moving to ban diesel cars from their centres, with Rome having become the latest capital to propose a ban on all diesel cars by 2024 from its historic centre.
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Cargo ships are another source of pollution. A recent report found that just 15 of the biggest cargo ships currently pollute more nitrogen and sulphur oxides than all of the world’s cars put together.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/98747/diesel-ban-cities-across-the-world-move-to-ban-diesel-cars-from-their
But cargo ships don’t spend much time moving around cities.
Having just seen the news of motorists stranded on motorways in snow and ice for up to 13 hours..I Wonder how an electric car would have kept its occupants alive in temperatures down to minus 10 Centigrade..banning PETROL/diesel cars is not only stupid. It could be fatal!