With transport still being the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU—
contributing almost a quarter of all emissions—there is still more to be done to tackle vehicle emissions.
One such method is the Euro Emissions Standards. First introduced by the European Commission over thirty years ago, subsequent iterations have been brought in to reduce vehicle emissions and their environmental impact.
They have helped us to make great strides as today’s standards measure pollutants separately mean that a modern-day petrol car emits around sixteen times less NOx than a Euro 1-era car.
We are currently on the sixth iteration of the Euro Emission Standards, which in 2014 marked the first major crackdown on the pollution-causing diesel NOx. Over a decade later, an updated version is on the way…
What are the Euro 7 Emissions Standards?
The Euro 7 Emissions Standards, also referred to as Euro 7, is the latest iteration of the European Commission’s strategy to help reduce vehicle emissions.
The new Euro 7 rules are the toughest yet and will cover every type of vehicle, including petrol, diesel, and electric models. Notably, these are the first standards to regulate 'hidden' pollution like dust from tyres and brakes, rather than just exhaust fumes.
Euro 7 Emissions Standards’ key features include:
- Extended Compliance Periods: Vehicles must now stay "clean" and compliant for 10 years or 200,000 km which is double the previous requirement!
- Battery Testing for EVs: For the first time, EVs and hybrids will undergo mandatory battery health checks to ensure they do not lose too much capacity as they age.
- Real-World Driving Conditions: Testing will now have even stricter conditions, accounting for short trips and extreme heat (up to 45°C) to ensure cars are performing in the real world as they are on paper.
- Broader Emission Limits: Whether powered by petrol, diesel or electric battery, the Euro 7 will set tougher, more consistent emission floors for every type of engine on the road.
- Hidden Pollution: While you might not see them, emissions are caused by “invisible” factors like microplastics, and dust shed by your brakes and tyres every journey. Euro 7 will now target these factors, helping the environment in fresh new ways.
Under the new standards, cars and vans are expected to see a 35% reduction in NOx and a 13% drop in tailpipe emissions. For lorries and buses, those figures improve significantly to 56% and 27%.