New environmental standard for delivery vehicles and taxis

The new environmental standards and technical characteristics applicable to delivery vehicles and taxis stem from the following three regulatory texts:

• Sovereign Order no. 10.427 of 22 February 2024 amending Article 27 of Sovereign Order no. 1.720 of 4 July 2008 relating to the regulation of taxis, delivery vehicles and hire motorbikes;
• Ministerial Order no. 2024-116 of 22 February 2024 amending Article 1 of Ministerial Order no. 2008-481 of 1 September 2008 setting the environmental standard for taxis;
• Ministerial Order no. 2024-117 of 22 February 2024 setting the environmental standard for delivery vehicles.

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¤ Delivery vehicles

— Main and auxiliary delivery vehicles must meet the following new technical specifications (Art. 27 OS 1.720)

1. have at least four doors with a minimum of four seats and a maximum of nine seats, including the driver; (unchanged)
2. have a minimum overall length of 4.90 metres (instead of 4.50 metres), an overall width of at least 1.70 metres and a sill height of less than 0.55 metres;
3. have a minimum power output of nine horsepower for petrol engines and six horsepower for diesel engines; (unchanged)
4. have a power rating of 84 KW or more (instead of 118 KW for hybrid vehicles powered by electricity and petrol, 80 KW for hybrid vehicles powered by electricity and diesel, and 70 KW for electric vehicles);
5. be one of the following colours: black, dark blue, grey or white;
6. meet the environmental standards set by ministerial decree;
7. for internal combustion vehicles, be no more than 7 years old. After formal notice has been given to the operator, any registered vehicle that is more than 7 years old will be removed from the register.

— Environmental standards (Art. 1 and 2 of AM no. 2024-117):

Discount vehicle operators must use electric, hybrid or renewable energy vehicles.

However, vehicles with internal combustion engines may be used provided that their CO2 emissions do not exceed 190 grams per kilometre or, in the case of 7/9-seater VANS, 220 grams per kilometre, and:

• In the 2 years following the entry into force of the ministerial decree, vehicles with internal combustion engines may only be used for delivery services if their CO2 emissions are less than 190 grams per kilometre.
• Provided that they submit to the Service des Titres de Circulation the order form and the invoice for the vehicle drawn up by a professional authorised to deal in vehicles, an additional period of no more than 1 year may be granted to operators who, during the 2-year period referred to above, order a vehicle with a CO2 emission rate of less than 190 grams per kilometre.

Operators of delivery vehicles must comply with the provisions of the Ministerial Order whenever they change their vehicle.

¤ Taxis

— Environmental standards (art. 1 AM no. 2008-481):

Taxi operators must also use electric, hybrid or renewable energy vehicles.

However, internal combustion engine vehicles may be used provided that their CO2 emissions do not exceed 190 grams per kilometre, or 220 grams per kilometre in the case of 7/9-seater VANS, and:

• In the 2 years following the entry into force of the ministerial decree, vehicles with internal combustion engines may only be used as taxis if their CO2 emissions are less than 190 grams per kilometre.
• Provided that they give the Service des Titres de Circulation the order form and the invoice for the vehicle drawn up by a professional authorised to trade in vehicles, an additional period of no more than 1 year may be granted to operators who, during the 2-year period referred to above, order a vehicle with a CO2 emission rate of less than 190 grams per kilometre.

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