Euro 7 – another step on the way to cleaner road transport

Tighter limits on pollutant emissions from road vehicles, minimum performance and durability standards for batteries in electric and hybrid vehicles, and an environmental passport for each vehicle are just some of the issues regulated by EURO 7.

In March this year During the plenary session, the European Parliament voted on new regulations on emissions from road transport, commonly known as EURO 7. In April, they were approved by the EU Council and then entered into force.

According to the regulations, the EURO 7 standard will apply from July 2030 (and not from mid-2025, as originally proposed by Brussels). In 2030, the regulations will cover passenger cars and delivery vans up to 3.5 tons GVW, and a year later also trucks and buses. The aim of these regulations is to further reduce exhaust emissions from road transport and improve the durability of vehicles.

Strict emission limits for combustion engines

The EURO 7 standard introduces strict limits on pollutant emissions, especially for diesel engines. Total emissions reduction is expected by 2035, when new vehicles with combustion engines can no longer be sold on the European market. In addition, the standard unifies nitrogen oxide emission limits, introduces measurement of pollutants from various vehicle sources (not only substances emitted from the exhaust pipe, but also e.g. dust from the braking system) and extends the period during which vehicles must meet these standards.

The EURO 6 standard in force in Europe since 2015 states that exhaust gas purity parameters must be maintained for a minimum of 8 years or until the vehicle has traveled 100,000 km. The EURO 7 standard tightens these requirements by increasing the required period of maintaining the standards to 10 years, and in the case of vehicle mileage, the standards are to be maintained up to 200,000. km.

New regulations regarding particulate matter

EURO 7 will introduce, for the first time in the EU, limits on PM10 particulate matter emissions for passenger cars, as well as the requirement to comply with the maximum emissions of PM10 particulate matter produced by the wear of brake pads and tires.

Increasing the durability of batteries

Together with the EURO 7 standard, there will also be regulations on the consumption of traction batteries in cars for the first time. The manufacturer of passenger electric cars and hybrids will have to guarantee the durability of the battery used in the vehicle. Up to 5 years or up to 100,000 km the battery will have to maintain min. 80% of the original capacity, and up to 8 years or after 160,000 km – min. 72% capacity.

Ecological vehicle passport

Another novelty for European vehicle users, introduced under the EURO 7 regulations, will be the so-called ecological vehicle passport. It is intended to contain information on the environmental performance of the vehicle on the date of its first registration. The document includes data such as CO2 emissions, fuel and electricity consumption, pollutant emission limits, electric range and battery durability.

Schedule for the introduction of the regulations

The period after which the new rules will have to apply depends on the type of vehicle and is:

30 months for new types of passenger cars and delivery vans,

42 months for new passenger cars and delivery vans,

48 months for new types of buses, trucks and trailers,

60 months for new buses, trucks and trailers,

30 months for new systems, components or technical assemblies in passenger cars and delivery vans,

48 months for these components in buses, trucks and trailers.

Costs and industry concerns

New regulations mean an inevitable increase in car production costs, which the automotive industry is already warning against. This applies to both passenger car and truck manufacturers. The European Commission estimates that the cost of producing a passenger car with a petrol engine will increase by approximately EUR 200 and a car with a diesel engine by approximately EUR 450. These calculations do not correspond to the estimated costs provided by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). According to ACEA, the new regulations may increase the cost of producing a passenger car with a gasoline engine by almost 2000 EUR, and with a diesel engine by 2600 EUR.

A similar discrepancy in forecasts occurs in the case of heavy goods vehicles. According to calculations by the European Commission, after the introduction of the EURO 7 standard, the cost of an average truck will increase by approximately EUR 3000. In turn, ACEA data are not so optimistic, as they assume that the direct costs related to the introduction of the EURO 7 standard will amount to EUR 11 700 on average for one truck.

The changes will affect all road transport companies. Some companies will decide to incur the costs of purchasing vehicles compliant with the EURO 7 standard, other carriers whose fleet is adapted to lower standards will have to deal with, among others, with higher toll costs. Ultimately, the costs of the transformation towards cleaner air will, as always, be passed on to customers.