Exhaust fumes, brake dust etc – EU adopts Euro 7 emissions standard – that’s what it says

EU countries and the European Parliament still have to formally approve the agreement. According to parliament, the rules will apply to cars and vans two and a half years after coming into force and to buses and trucks four years after this date.

In the future there will be just one set of rules instead of separate emissions regulations for cars and light commercial vehicles (Euro 6), as well as for trucks and buses (Euro VI). The new regulations set the same limits regardless of whether the vehicle uses gasoline, diesel, batteries or alternative fuels for energy storage.

Euro 7 at a glance
Pollutants: In cars and light commercial vehicles, the previously limited pollutants nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter and hydrocarbons are now joined by ammonia (NH₃), a pollutant that plays a key role in the formation of urban smog. Formaldehyde (CH₂O) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are now restricted in trucks.

Limits: In principle, the limit values ​​for pollutants from exhaust gases will not be lowered this time. However, they are adapted to the lowest Euro 6 level of drive types. This means: The maximum nitrogen emissions from diesel engines decrease from 80 mg/km to the petrol engine’s value of 60 mg/km. New: Even very fine dust with a particle diameter of up to 10 nanometers is regulated. And carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from petrol engines will be halved to the diesel limit of 500 milligrams.

Dimensions: The RDE measurements in real road traffic are extended to temperatures up to 45 degrees and also for short journeys typical of commuting. The conformity factor, which allows deviations from the measured test bench value, is abolished.

Emissions from brakes and tires: For the first time, there will be additional limits for particulate emissions from brakes and rules for the emission of microplastics from tires. These rules apply to all vehicles. This means: In the future, electric vehicles would also fall under the Euro 7 standard.

Sustainability: The sustainability requirements (i.e. long-term compliance with the limit values) have doubled compared to Euro 6. For cars and vans, compliance is checked until these vehicles have driven 200,000 kilometers and are 10 years old. For the first time, requirements are set for the durability of traction batteries for electric cars: after five years or 100,000 kilometers, the storage capacity of the battery may not fall below 80 percent of the original value, and after eight years or 160,000 kilometers, not below 70 percent. per cent.

To use: According to the Commission, the introduction of Euro 7 by 2035 will reduce total NOₓ emissions from cars and vans by 35 percent compared to Euro 6 and by 56 percent compared to Euro VI from buses and trucks. At the same time, particles from the exhaust of cars and vans are reduced by 13 percent and those from buses and trucks by 39 percent, while particles from car brakes are reduced by 27 percent.

Cost: For the European Commission, the expected cost increases represent only a small part of the total vehicle purchase costs compared to the current situation, namely between 90 and 150 euros for cars and vans and around 2,700 euros for trucks and buses. The estimated environmental benefits in terms of avoided health effects from air pollution significantly outweigh these costs to manufacturers, consumers and governments – by a ratio of more than 5 to 1.

Tamper protection: Vehicle manufacturers must ensure that speedometers, injection systems or control units cannot be tampered with. In addition, the Commission would like to require an on-board monitoring system (OBM) that can detect emissions exceedances and indicate the occurrence of such exceedances based on information stored in the vehicle, as well as transmitting that information through the OBD port and wirelessly. (Source: ADAC)