Israel adopts regulations to reduce emissions from in-use diesel vehicles
14 March 2018
Israeli lawmakers have approved regulations that will require owners of old, heavy-duty diesel vehicles operating within low-emission zones in the country to install diesel particulate filters (DPF). The first low-emission zone in Israel was recently established in Haifa.
The regulations were passed by the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee on March 12, 2018; they’ll go into effect on November 1, 2018.
Under the regulations, every vehicle license will include a rating, in accordance with its impact on air pollution:
- Clean (electric vehicles)
- Reduced pollution vehicle
- Normal
- Polluting vehicle—defined as those that do not meet Euro IV standards
Vehicles defined as “polluting” will be marked with a sticker during their annual vehicular license test, and ultimately will not be allowed to enter low-emission zones in Israel. Older diesel vehicles will receive a “reduced pollution” rating once a particulate filter has been installed. Vehicle operators who are required to install the filters but do not do so will be unable to renew their vehicle’s license.
The regulations are part of a national program to reduce vehicular air pollution. The program—led by the Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection (MoEP)—includes a number of actions, such as establishment of low-emission zones, support for electric buses and electric ride-share programs, and the promotion of clean public transportation. The program is expected to reduce air pollution from transportation by more than 30%.
In the coming weeks, the MoEP will announce a financial subsidy program that includes two main elements:
- Up to 100% financial support to install a particulate filter, and
- Grants of up to NIS 22,000 (US$6,400) for scrapping of polluting diesel vehicles.
Source: Israel MoEP