Danish environmental zones require that diesel-powered trucks and buses meet at least Euro VI or have a particulate filter. Here are the five zones, the requirements, the development of Euro standards with limit values for NOx and particulates, and the green transition (electric, gas and HVO), which is a growing part of the trade's future.
Introduction
Environmental zones are urban areas where older, more polluting diesel vehicles are not allowed to drive. The aim is to reduce air pollution with health-damaging particles and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the largest cities. For a lorry driver it's practical everyday stuff: drive into an environmental zone with a vehicle that doesn't meet the requirements and it costs a fine.
The five environmental zones
Environmental zones have been established in five Danish urban areas. The zones are marked and their extent is set out in the environmental zone regulations.
- 01Copenhagen
- 02Frederiksberg
- 03Aarhus
- 04Odense
- 05Aalborg
Requirements for lorries and buses
The requirements have been tightened gradually over time. For diesel-powered lorries and buses, the key is that the vehicle must either meet at least Euro VI standard or be equipped with an approved retrofit particle filter. If the vehicle meets Euro VI, the particle filter requirement is deemed satisfied.
- 01Diesel-powered trucks and buses: at least Euro VI, or particulate filter, to legally drive in an environmental zone.
- 02If a particulate filter cannot be retrofitted to the vehicle, an exemption (waiver) can be sought in special cases.
- 03Compliance is automatically read: cameras at zone entrances read the registration plate and look up the vehicle in the Vehicle Register.
Euro standards
Euro standards are the EU's common limit values for exhaust pollution (among other things particles, NOx, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide). For heavy vehicles they tighten step by step from Euro I to Euro VI — the higher the number, the cleaner. Euro VI for heavy vehicles is set out in regulation (EC) No. 595/2009 and became mandatory for new heavy vehicles at the beginning of the 2010s. Below are the advisory introduction years for new heavy vehicles; look up the precise date for a specific vehicle.
| Standard | Introduction (new heavy vehicles, approx.) | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Euro I | 1992 | First common limit values |
| Euro II | 1996 | Sharpened |
| Euro III | 2000 | Sharpened |
| Euro IV | 2005 | Sharpened |
| Euro V | 2008 | Sharpened |
| Euro VI | 2013–2014 | Regulation (EC) 595/2009 — current requirements |
Euro VI significantly reduced particulate and NOx emissions compared to Euro V — including particulate filter and SCR catalyst, which uses AdBlue to convert NOx to nitrogen and water. This is why Euro VI is specifically the threshold in environmental zones.
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