The Bundesrat, the legislative body in Germany, voted recently to ban all internal combustion engines in new vehicles produced after 2030. It is perhaps rather worrying that this piece of legislation put before the Bundesrat was overwhelmingly supported by all 16 represented German states.
“Utter nonsense”
Thankfully this is just a first tier policy and would have to be approved by the Transport Department to make it law and Alexander Dobrint, the German Transport Minister, does not think that it is workable nor that it is something that he can get behind. He has been quoted as saying that the ban is “utter nonsense” and “a complete ban by 2030 would be totally unrealistic”. Considering that it is his department that would have to approve the proposal, it doesn’t look likely that it will find its way onto the legislative books anytime soon.
This does not mean that it will never happen though and the way that certain governments are changing their emission laws could see a move towards very draconian measures sooner than we would like. Germany, it must be remembered, exerts an enormous amount of influence within the European Union and also beyond which means that if there is an appetite for this sort of green cloud thinking then do not be at all surprised to see similar legislation touted across Europe.
Machines like the city-friendly Fuoco will be replaced by pedal powered if the Bundesrat gets their own way..
European ban
Paris is just one city, along with Berlin and over 200 other European cities that have implemented a ban on any vehicle over 10 years old, motorcycles and scooters included and with Euro4 coming in this could just be the tip of the iceberg. Paris like Berlin will be using a colour-coded sticker system for vehicles to display which makes it easier to determine the age of a vehicle, although vintage vehicles and some work vehicles will be exempt.
The very fact that this is being mooted at the moment usually means that some sort of restrictive legislation will be implemented at some point, do not say you haven’t been warned!
Words: Kate
Is this the classic city vehicle of the future?
Electric Cezeta, modern power, classic exterior
Enjoy them whilst you can
Nails are already well and truly in the two stroke coffin, many other petrol powered vehicles are also being banned and legislated against so our advice is to get out there and enjoy them whilst you can. Our grand children are unlikely to be able to experience the thrill of a decent two stroke in years to come. Once a sustainable mass produced alternative energy source is harnessed our fossil fuel machines will be confined to museums. It means electric conversions for classic scooters will become the norm, forward-thinking builders are already on the case. Have a look at a couple of our previous stories, maybe all is not lost…
The Bundesrat, the legislative body in Germany, voted recently to ban all internal combustion engines in new vehicles produced after 2030. It is perhaps rather worrying that this piece of legislation put before the Bundesrat was overwhelmingly supported by all 16 represented German states.
“Utter nonsense”
Thankfully this is just a first tier policy and would have to be approved by the Transport Department to make it law and Alexander Dobrint, the German Transport Minister, does not think that it is workable nor that it is something that he can get behind. He has been quoted as saying that the ban is “utter nonsense” and “a complete ban by 2030 would be totally unrealistic”. Considering that it is his department that would have to approve the proposal, it doesn’t look likely that it will find its way onto the legislative books anytime soon.
This does not mean that it will never happen though and the way that certain governments are changing their emission laws could see a move towards very draconian measures sooner than we would like. Germany, it must be remembered, exerts an enormous amount of influence within the European Union and also beyond which means that if there is an appetite for this sort of green cloud thinking then do not be at all surprised to see similar legislation touted across Europe.
European ban
Paris is just one city, along with Berlin and over 200 other European cities that have implemented a ban on any vehicle over 10 years old, motorcycles and scooters included and with Euro4 coming in this could just be the tip of the iceberg. Paris like Berlin will be using a colour-coded sticker system for vehicles to display which makes it easier to determine the age of a vehicle, although vintage vehicles and some work vehicles will be exempt.
The very fact that this is being mooted at the moment usually means that some sort of restrictive legislation will be implemented at some point, do not say you haven’t been warned!
Words: Kate
Enjoy them whilst you can
Nails are already well and truly in the two stroke coffin, many other petrol powered vehicles are also being banned and legislated against so our advice is to get out there and enjoy them whilst you can. Our grand children are unlikely to be able to experience the thrill of a decent two stroke in years to come. Once a sustainable mass produced alternative energy source is harnessed our fossil fuel machines will be confined to museums. It means electric conversions for classic scooters will become the norm, forward-thinking builders are already on the case. Have a look at a couple of our previous stories, maybe all is not lost…
Just got back from a holiday in Turkey and was surprised by the number of electric scooters there, some looking surprisingly old. I’d guess at 20-25% scooters were electric?
One looked remarkably like a Lambretta Model D..
Just seen a video on youtube for a nice little electric Schwalbe a la Cezeta with original bodywork style and ‘lectric innards.
https://lambrettista.net/2016/09/30/electric-swallow-update/
Also, Lohner is making a dynamo-ic comeback apparently.
https://www.lohner.at/en-us/
Looks like zer Chermanics are once again in zer engineering lead!
Where is the British offering? I would like to see the DKR Dove (ha ha biggest misnoser…sorry misnomer ever) resurrected with the power of Galvanism with its big nose as a scooter boot beer fridge but suspect a sparky Scomadi will be on the cards before long. Fantastic…I can get a scoot that sounds like those flying ones in cartoons like the Jetsons. Coooool!
Welcome to the World of Tomorrow!
We reviewed the Cezeta a while ago on SLUK, tomorrow’s news yesterday: https://archive.scooterlab.uk/cezeta-506-electric-world-first-road-test-review/