Low Emission Zones now represent the equivalent of 100,000 football fields in Spain.

Low Emission Zones (LEZs), designed to restrict the circulation of the most polluting vehicles and improve air quality, already cover an impressive area in Spain, more than 100,000 football fields in size.

The main implication is the need to know your vehicle's environmental label (A, B, C, ECO, or ZERO) and verify whether it allows you to access the LEZ of the city you wish to travel through. For older vehicles without a label (A label), access is usually prohibited during the hours and in the areas of the LEZs.

Driven by the Climate Change Law, these areas seek to improve air quality in urban areas.

According to a study by Bipi, the Renault Group's car subscription company, these restricted areas in force in more than 53 Spanish cities occupy at least 739 square kilometers, equivalent to 103,460 soccer fields. However, despite this vast expanse, the implementation of LEZs in the country is progressing at a considerably slow pace.

The analysis, based on data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, shows that only 32% of Spanish cities required by law (municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants and some with more than 20,000 with air quality problems) have their LEZs active. This means that the remaining 68% of the required municipalities still have them in process or pending implementation, despite the fact that the regulations came into force on January 1, 2023. A total of 94 cities, 56%, are in the process of implementing them, while 20 municipalities (almost 12%) have not yet begun implementing them.

The city of Madrid accounts for 80% of the total LEZ area in Spain, covering the entire capital municipality with an area of ​​605 square kilometers, equivalent to more than 84,000 football fields. The LEZ of Barcelona, ​​with 95 square kilometers, and Badalona, ​​with 12 square kilometers, are next in importance, although much smaller. Other cities with active LEZs of significant size include Málaga (4.4 km2), A Coruña (4.2 km2), Córdoba (2.5 km2), Bilbao (2 km2), and Zaragoza (1.7 km2).

The study highlights that, among the 94 cities that do not yet have their LEZs active, approximately 30 are provincial capitals. Notable examples include Valencia (almost 800,000 inhabitants), Murcia (close to 460,000), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (380,000), Vitoria (255,000), and Granada (234,000), which have not yet implemented these zones, which are mandatory under the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law. Municipalities cite a lack of time, technical resources, and financial resources for the complex installation of surveillance cameras, signage, and IT systems.

Given this scenario, and with the average age of passenger cars in Spain reaching 14.5 years, millions of vehicles face restrictions on access to the LEZs. In this context, car subscriptions are emerging as an affordable alternative.

According to Bipi, vehicles are offered with the latest technologies and environmental labels that allow unrestricted access to the LEZs.

Models such as a Dacia Jogger mild hybrid (ECO label) from 395 euros per month, a Renault Captur mild hybrid (ECO) from 415 euros, or even a pure electric Renault 5 (ZERO label) from 539 euros per month, are presented as flexible solutions with no risk of fines for drivers.