The City of Stockholm introduced clean vehicles as far back as 1991. Trendsetter has sped up the development by subsidising the purchase of clean cars for the municipal fleet. Today, more than four out of ten municipal vehicles are clean.
Once a city introduces clean vehicles, the number does not automatically increase. The opposite actually happened in Stockholm. After the entire municipal fleet was outsourced to a private leasing company in 2002, purchase decisions were decentralized. This led to less focus on clean vehicles and the share of clean cars in the municipal fleet dropped.
Within Trendsetter, Stockholm has changed this negative trend. One way has been to offer subsidies to lower the cost for purchasing clean vehicles. Another way has been to gather the buyers of clean vehicles in a common procurement, which has brought prices down. The city has also arranged seminars and information activities in order to encourage city administrations, especially procurement officers, to choose clean vehicles. Furthermore, a test fleet of clean cars was set up together with the car industry. This way, potential buyers could try different types and models of clean cars free of charge.
Discussions with local and national politicians has resulted in free or discounted parking for clean cars and no congestion tax. Talks with the car dealers have also helped to introduce more models of clean cars.
In the end of 2005, the City of Stockholm operates 465 clean vehicles, which is 43% of the municipal fleet. This has led to:
Reduced total energy consumption by approximately 25%, which is due to a high share of electric hybrid cars.
Reduced fossil CO2 emissions from 650 to 560 tonnes/year.
Reduced emissions of NOX, HC and CO.
15% lower fuel cost for the biogas vehicles. Operating costs for ethanol vehicles have been equivalent to the cost of petrol and the fuelling cost for the electric hybrid vehicles has been 3 % lower.
80% of the drivers state that they are very satisfied and would recommend others to drive clean vehicles. The disadvantage has been a 5% higher average maintenance cost, mainly because biogas vehicles need more maintenance and repair.
More information:
Sven Alexanderson, Environment and Health Administration, +46 8 508 28 945,
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