Lower parking tariffs for low-emission cars

Summary

In order to improve air quality and raise awareness, Graz introduced a reduced parking tariff for low-emission vehicles, including hybrid, electric and biofuel cars.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Traffic flow has increased enormously in recent years in Graz. The present measure was introduced within the framework of a necessary tariff increase.

The hourly parking tariff for all conventional vehicles was raised from EUR 1 to EUR 1.20, while the tariff for low-emission vehicles was lowered to EUR 0.80. Registered owners of low-emission cars receive a so-called Umweltjeton, or environmental token, and an official sticker issued by the city council. Ticket vending machines are equipped to recognise these tokens and deliver a lower tariff.

The new tariff system differentiates between cars below and above certain threshold limits: 

• Petrol-powered vehicles must achieve Euro IV standard and emit less than 140g CO2 per km.
• Diesel-powered vehicles must achieve Euro IV standard and emit less than 130g CO2 per km and must be equipped with particle filters.
• Gas-powered vehicles must achieve Euro IV standard and emit less than 140g CO2 per km.

Progress

The steps in the implementation process were:

• the definition of thresholds — What is a low-emission car?
• the definition of the implementation zone — all paid parking zones in Graz are included;
• technological implementation — parking ticket vending machines had to be adapted to be able to deliver differentiated prices and recognise environmental tokens;
• organisational implementation — procedures had to be put in place on how and where to register; and
• marketing — drivers needed to be made aware of the new system.

Outcomes

The local law defining parking tariffs was changed with the addition of a paragraph stating that a special tariff is applicable to low-emission vehicles.

Potential barriers were the fact that all drivers of low-emission vehicles had to register their cars with the Parking Department; and that all car manufacturers currently have different standards for low emissions.