European Commission Proposes Stringent Euro 7 Emission Standards for Cleaner Vehicles
In a groundbreaking move on November 10, 2022, the European Commission introduced a proposal for Euro 7, a set of more stringent air pollutant emissions standards applicable to combustion-engine vehicles, irrespective of the fuel used. These proposed standards build on the existing Euro 6 limits for cars and vans and Euro VI for buses, trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles. Euro 7 aims not only to regulate tailpipe emissions but also addresses non-exhaust emissions, including microplastics from tires and particles from brakes, while incorporating battery durability requirements.
By the year 2035, Euro 7 is expected to yield substantial reductions in nitrogen emissions, with a 35% decrease for cars and vans compared to Euro 6, and a significant 56% reduction for buses and trucks compared to Euro VI. Particle emissions are also projected to decrease by 13% for cars and vans and 39% for buses and trucks, with a noteworthy 27% reduction in brake particles. Recognizing road transport as a major contributor to urban air pollution, Euro 7 standards aim to ensure cleaner vehicles on the roads, promoting enhanced air quality for the well-being of citizens and the environment.
The integration of Euro 7 standards with CO2 emission standards for vehicles is crucial for delivering improved air quality. These regulations not only guide the automotive supply chain in reducing pollutant emissions but also encourage the adoption of digital technologies.
Euro 7 emission standards usher in a new era where cars, vans, lorries, and buses are cleaner in real-world driving conditions, mirroring the challenges posed by urban air pollution. The proposal addresses emissions from tailpipes, brakes, and tires, contributing to the attainment of stricter air quality standards proposed by the Commission in October 2022.
While CO2 emission rules focus on zero-emission vehicles, Euro 7 ensures that all vehicles on the roads are significantly cleaner. By 2035, every car and van sold in the EU is expected to have zero CO2 emissions, but beyond 2050, a considerable portion of vehicles may still emit pollutants. Euro 7 rules are designed to reduce these emissions, making vehicles more affordable for consumers.
Key requirements of the Euro 7 standards include the replacement and simplification of previous emission rules for various vehicle types, unifying emission limits for cars, vans, buses, and lorries. These rules are fuel- and technology-neutral, applying the same limits regardless of the vehicle's propulsion method. They offer better control over air pollutant emissions in diverse driving conditions, covering a broader range of scenarios across Europe.
Euro 7 also updates and tightens emission limits, setting new standards for previously unregulated pollutants like nitrous oxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. Notably, the Euro 7 standards go beyond exhaust pipe emissions, introducing limits for particulate emissions from brakes and rules on microplastic emissions from tires, applicable to all vehicles, including electric ones.
To ensure prolonged cleanliness, compliance checks for cars and vans will extend until the vehicle reaches 200,000 kilometers and 10 years of age, doubling the durability requirements of Euro 6/VI rules. This durability boost also extends to buses and lorries.
In a bid to support the growing electric vehicle market, Euro 7 regulations include provisions for regulating battery durability. This move aims to enhance consumer confidence in electric vehicles, reduce the need for premature battery replacements, and subsequently decrease the demand for critical raw materials used in battery production.
Euro 7 embraces the possibilities offered by digital technologies, ensuring vehicles remain untampered with, and emissions can be easily monitored by authorities throughout a vehicle's lifetime, leveraging internal sensors for continuous measurement.
