Clean Transportation Zone in Warsaw. Is this the end of old diesels? The city will ban entry of cars older than 15 years

[Warszawa Nasze Miasto (translated from Polish), 4/6/2022]

The data concerning the emissions of vehicles in Warsaw were presented in the report “Evaluation of real-world vehicle emissions in Warsaw”. It was prepared by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The same organization that uncovered Volkswagen’s cheating in exhaust control tests. Now, in cooperation with the city and the Polish Smog Alarm, road pollution levels in Warsaw have been measured. From September 24 to October 9, 2020, the pollution emitted by a total of 147,777 vehicles in Warsaw was examined. Sensors and cameras were used for the study, allowing thousands of cars to be checked daily. The system also detected diesel cars, and the results were compared with CEPIK data. The results are frightening. Diesel cars (which account for about 30 percent of all vehicles in Warsaw) emit as much as 2/3 of all harmful nitrogen oxides. Most of them are those that are over fifteen years old. Soon they will no longer exist in the city center. The restrictions will cover at least the Śródmieście area. Only on such a scale will we be able to feel the changes – explains Michał Olszewski, Deputy President of Warsaw. Concrete decisions will be made, however, after the analyses conducted by ICCT are completed. The final vote belongs to the Council of Warsaw.