Low Emission Zones in cities: how do freight and delivery companies cope?[Les « zones à émissions réduites » en ville : comment s’adaptent les entreprises de transport de marchandises ?]

This paper presents the results from RETMIF project financed by the French Agency for Energy (Ademe). The objective of this research was to understand the evolution of Low Emission Zones and their impact on urban freight transport in order to identify lessons which will be useful pour Paris Low Emission Zone. In order to improve air quality in European cities, public authorities have implemented Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in which access by the most polluting vehicles is banned. We assess the impacts on urban freight companies of implementing a LEZ, through three case studies: London, Berlin and Gothenburg. Two approaches were developed: first we collected quantitative data about freight companies and their activities in the three cities; secondly, we interviewed various stakeholders (local authorities, transport associations, freight companies). We conclude that the implementation of a LEZ tends to reduce the number of freight companies delivering urban areas, while encouraging public and private stakeholders to take action to modernise freight transport sector. Urban freight indeed requires modernisation: a high percentage of old vehicles still operate in many European areas; and many small transport and delivery companies have financial and economic difficulties. Low Emission Zones represent an answer to promote a restructuring of the urban freight market.