More than half of the 78,000 Parisians voted in favor of increasing parking prices for SUVs and 4×4 vehicles in the referendum that took place over the weekend.
The project by the Paris city council sets a limit of 1600 kg for combustion or plug-in hybrid cars, and 2000 kg for electric cars. Vehicles above these values will be penalized with parking fees that can reach €18 per hour in the city center and €12 in the outskirts of the French capital.
According to the Paris municipality, the new parking tariff will not affect “Parisian residents and professionals parked in authorized areas, taxis parked in specific locations, craftsmen, as well as healthcare professionals.”
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has already acknowledged the “clear choice” made by Parisians concerned about road safety and air pollution. The mayor had already stated that this initiative aims to reduce the circulation of SUVs by increasing parking prices and for this, the Paris municipality will use a scanning system that allows them to determine the brand, model, and weight of the vehicle.
The measure now approved by the Parisians follows another one that put an end to the use of rental electric scooters on the streets of the French capital.