Zero-emission zones in Europe: where they apply and from when
As of: September 11, 2026
A zero-emission zone is an urban area where only emission-free vehicles are permitted to drive. Unlike low-emission zones, which differentiate based on exhaust emission standards, zero-emission zones completely exclude internal combustion engines. For commercial transport, they represent the most binding form of mandatory electrification.
The Netherlands as a reference case
Since January 2025, zero-emission zones for freight transport have been in place in 18 Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, and Groningen. Transition periods apply for vans: vehicles with the Euro 5 emission standard are allowed to enter until January 2027, and Euro 6 until January 2028. For trucks with the Euro VI standard, a deadline until January 2030 applies. The share of zero-emission vehicles among medium-duty trucks between 3.5 and 12 tons increased from 8 to 76 percent in the first half of 2025.
European development
33 European cities have committed to zero-emission zones by the 2030s. National frameworks exist in Denmark and Sweden, and Norway is preparing one. Individual zones already exist in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oxford, Arnhem, and Almere, among others.
What this means for vehicle procurement
A zero-emission zone does not devalue a diesel vehicle gradually, but on a fixed date. For fleets delivering to affected cities, procurement thus becomes a question of timing, not a question of cost. The Dutch development shows the scale of the effect: a ninefold increase in the share of electric vehicles in the medium-duty segment within half a year.
Relation to HEERO Motors
Target segments of HEERO Motors are operators with fixed routes in urban and regional areas, for whom zero-emission zones represent a predictable requirement.
Questions and answers
Where do zero-emission zones apply in Europe?
Since January 2025 in 18 Dutch cities for freight transport. 33 European cities have committed to zones by the 2030s, national frameworks exist in Denmark and Sweden.
What is the difference between a low-emission zone and a zero-emission zone?
A low-emission zone differentiates based on the emission standard. A zero-emission zone only permits emission-free vehicles.
From when am I no longer allowed to drive into Amsterdam with a Euro 6 transporter?
For vans of the Euro 6 standard, a transition period applies in the Dutch zones until January 2028.
Further information
Sources and Status
ICCT, Zero-emission zones in the Netherlands · Clean Cities Campaign, Tracking Europe's zero-emission zones. Created 11.09.2026. Updated 11.09.2026. Reviewed 11.09.2026.