Paris recently voted in favor of tripling parking fees on large SUVs and vehicles that weigh 1.6 tonnes (3,527 pounds) or more, which would hike rates in the city center to EUR 18 ($26 CAD) an hour. The fees would also apply to electric cars that weigh 2 tonnes (4,409 pounds) or more.

For reference, an average large SUV can range anywhere between 5,400 and 6,000 pounds. A Tesla Model 3 standard range plus weighs about 3862 pounds, while a Model X plaid weighs about 5390 pounds.

🏭♻️ In a major push for cleaner air, Paris aims to reduce SUV presence by tripling parking fees. A step towards a more sustainable, bike-friendly city. #CleanAir #tuesdayvibe #TuesdayMotivaton pic.twitter.com/VrrqgTUKAG

— Eco Yoga Flow (@EcoYogaFlow) February 13, 2024

The measures, which are meant to discourage bulky, polluting cars, were approved by about 54.5% of Parisians in a referendum that took place early last month, while 45.5% rejected the fee increase.

Rates will apply to the first 2 hours of parking but increase after that. For example, a large SUV that parks for 6 hours will pay about $327 CAD.

“We’re proud of having posed an eminently environmental question at a time the environment is presented as the source of all evil,” Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has served as Mayor of Paris since 2014, said in a statement. “It’s a form of resistance here in Paris to this very concerning movement.

Other European cities are implementing similar measures—later this month, the city of Lyon, France, will introduce monthly subscription parking prices (ranging from $22 CAD to $66 CAD) that will consider the weight and type of a vehicle as well as a household’s socioeconomic status. Grenoble, another French city, recently implemented a higher environmental tariff in car parks for heavier vehicles.

In Montreal, parking fees in Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie vary based on the type and weight of a vehicle. For example, electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or plug-in hybrid vehicles weighing 3414 pounds or less will pay $115 for a parking permit. The fee is the same for combustion vehicles or non-plug-in hybrids weighing 2753 pounds or less. The fee jumps to $205 for electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or plug-in hybrid vehicles weighing 4078 pounds or more and for combustion vehicles or non-plug-in hybrids weighing 3527 pounds or more.

In Toronto, commercial parking levies have been looked at as one way for the city to increase revenue, although there have been few discussions about larger cars paying higher parking prices.

Still, progress is being made in the city. Last month, the Toronto Region Board of Trade launched a new task force to tackle traffic congestion in the city, citing how—despite transit investments and short-term fixes, such as traffic agents on the ground and better use of real-time data—the city’s gridlock has reached a “tipping point”.

The Board estimates that Toronto commuters spend 98 hours annually navigating rush hour traffic and have the longest average travel time in North America.

“Toronto’s congestion crisis is lengthening traveling times for people, goods and services to painful levels, eroding our city’s livability and seriously undermining business competitiveness. It’s affecting our global reputation and costing over $11 billion annually in lost productivity,” Giles Gherson, President and CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, said in a statement.

“Our task force of business leaders has a strong history of problem-solving and implementing bold solutions. They are here to take action, and by the end of the year we will provide solutions to the city that will have a real impact on how people and businesses move across our region.”