The city council of Utrecht wants to improve air quality in the city. In the ‘Utrecht chooses healthy air’ programme, it has been decided to introduce a zero-emission zone for trucks and commercial vehicles. According to the original plan, this type of heavy traffic will no longer be allowed into the city center from January 1, 2025 if they drive on diesel or petrol.
The municipality encountered a number of practical problems with this plan. For example, it is a considerable investment for local and small independent entrepreneurs, such as market traders and stand holders, to switch to electric driving. In addition, the pressure on the electricity grid in the Utrecht region is great. There is a transitional arrangement to accommodate entrepreneurs. This means that diesel and petrol vans can drive in the city center until 2028 and trucks until 2030.