London is taking note of Paris's increase in parking fees for SUVs.

• Some SUV parking fees in Paris have been tripled, with rates in the city center now at 18 euros per hour.
• Other European cities are considering implementing similar policies or have shown interest in doing so.
• While SUVs are popular due to their extra seating, storage, and higher driver position, there are city-specific concerns about pollution, space, and safety.

Large SUVs will face higher parking fees in Paris, as the city joins others in Europe in targeting more polluting vehicles.

In a recent referendum in Paris, nearly 55% of voters supported a particular parking fee for non-resident sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Despite a 5.7% turnout rate, the poll only represented a small fraction of the capital's electoral list.

In Paris, drivers will pay up to 18 euros an hour to park in the city center and 12 euros an hour in the wider area. The higher charges will apply to SUVs weighing more than 1.6 metric tons that are hybrid or have a combustion engine, as well as electric SUVs weighing over 2 metric tons.

Jens Müller, deputy director and head of policy and research at the Clean Cities campaign group, stated that "Paris events often have a global impact."

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo concurs with the assessment of a high likelihood of other cities following suit, as stated by the individual who spoke to CNBC.

SUV sales surge

As SUV sales increase, the IEA reports that the move towards heavier and less fuel-efficient conventional vehicles contributes to growth in oil demand and CO2 emissions. In 2022, global carbon emissions from vehicles reached nearly 1 billion tons, according to the IEA.

Cars are increasingly popular due to their extra seating, storage space, and higher driver position. However, Edmund King, president of the U.K.'s AA, stated that there are valid safety reasons for cars to be larger.

"Modern vehicles have crumple zones, pedestrian protection, and numerous airbags, which all contribute to their increased size, thanks to Euro NCAP, a safety standard," he stated.

In the U.K., a study by Badvertising in 2021 revealed that three-quarters of SUVs sold in 2019-20 were registered to urban addresses, causing problems in already-crowded cities.

And cities in Europe are starting to take note.

Like Lyon, Paris has decided to implement a similar policy of higher parking charges for heavier vehicles, which will take effect in June.

Bordeaux is considering taxing SUVs, while Grenoble has already implemented a higher environmental tariff for heavier vehicles in car parks.

In Tübingen, Germany, the cost of an annual resident parking permit for combustion-engine vehicles weighing over 1.8 metric tons increased six-fold to 180 euros. Meanwhile, Belit Onay, the mayor of Hanover, stated that his city would need to consider how to manage vehicles that occupy more space, following the Paris vote.

In addition to pollution, SUVs also have concerns related to space and safety. According to Transport & Environment, which runs the Clean Cities Campaign, new cars in Europe are becoming wider by an average of 1cm every two years. Large luxury SUVs, with a width of approximately 200cm, are leaving too little space for people to enter and exit other vehicles in typical off-street parking spaces.

A study by the Vias Institute in Belgium found that the risk of fatal injuries increases by 30% if a pedestrian or cyclist is hit by a car with a hood that is 10cm higher than average.

'Watching with excitement'

Prior to the Paris referendum, London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that he would monitor the effectiveness of the policies. However, a spokesperson for Khan clarified via email that the mayor lacks the authority to implement an SUV parking charge and has no intention of doing so.

The taxation of petrol SUVs in the U.K. is lower than in other continental European countries, making it a potential "tax haven" for these larger, more polluting vehicles, according to Transport & Environment.

As the demand for SUVs in the U.K. increases, with a 25% increase in sales between 2022 and 2023, T&E research shows that SUVs accounted for 60% of new car registrations in 2022. The group cautioned that this trend could jeopardize the U.K.'s carbon targets, as most SUVs are powered by petrol, diesel, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid engines.

Lambeth council's deputy leader, Rezina Chowdhury, expressed excitement about the events in Paris, as she told CNBC.

Chowdhury stated that London's Lambeth Council had implemented emissions-based charging the previous year and that the next step would be to consider fees based on vehicle size. "It just feels wrong that in a city, these massive vehicles exist," she said.