EU agrees on Euro 7: New rules to cut road transport emissions
The European Union has reached a significant agreement on the Euro 7 regulation, with the European Parliament and the European Council reaching a provisional agreement on a new set of rules on December 18, 2023, aimed at reducing emissions from road transport. This regulation is a key step in the EU’s transition towards clean mobility, focusing on keeping vehicle costs affordable for both individuals and businesses.
Under Euro 7, vehicles will be required to comply with the new standards for an extended period, ensuring they remain cleaner throughout their lifetime. This move is designed to ensure long-term environmental benefits.
For passenger cars and vans, the agreement maintains the current Euro 6 test conditions and exhaust emissions limits. However, at the request of the European Parliament, the measurement of exhaust particles will now include smaller particles at the level of PN10, instead of PN23.
For buses and trucks, the deal introduces stricter limits for exhaust emissions, both in laboratory settings (e.g., a NOx limit of 200 mg/kWh) and in real driving conditions (NOx limit of 260 mg/kWh), while maintaining the current Euro VI testing conditions.
The agreement sets limits for brake particle emissions (PM10) for cars and vans. It also introduces minimum performance requirements for battery durability in electric and hybrid vehicles, ensuring longer battery life and efficiency.
The new regulation includes the introduction of an Environmental Vehicle Passport for each vehicle, providing detailed information on its environmental performance at registration. Vehicle users will also have access to up-to-date information about fuel consumption, battery health, pollutant emissions, and other relevant data generated by on-board systems and monitors. Additionally, car manufacturers are required to design vehicles to prevent tampering with emissions control systems.
Alexandr Vondra (ECR, CZ), the rapporteur, highlighted the balance achieved between environmental goals and the interests of manufacturers. “This deal ensures the affordability of new smaller cars with internal combustion engines and prepares the automotive industry for the sector’s overall transformation,” he said. The EU will now also address emissions from brakes and tyres and ensure higher battery durability.
“It is important to note that many of the new provisions bring significant technical and investment challenges at a crucial time in the zero-emission mobility transformation,” said ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries. “As key elements are still to be decided through secondary legislation, we will continue working to ensure a realistic Euro 7, within the limitations imposed by the primary legislation.”
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
Next steps
The agreement requires formal approval by the Parliament and Council before it can enter into force. The regulation will apply 30 months after its entry into force for cars and vans, and 48 months for buses, trucks, and trailers. For vehicles constructed by small volume manufacturers, it will apply from July 1, 2030, for cars and vans, and from July 1, 2031, for buses and trucks.
Background of Euro 7 proposal
On November 10, 2022, the European Commission proposed more stringent air pollutant emissions standards for combustion-engine vehicles. The current emission limits apply to cars and vans (Euro 6) and buses, trucks, and other heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI). The Euro 7 proposal introduces measures for non-exhaust emissions, including microplastics from tyres and particles from brakes, and includes requirements concerning battery durability.
