Euro 7

In May 2024, the Euro 7 emissions standards (Regulation 2024/1257) entered into force.

The Euro standards are a set of regulations that carmakers must adhere to when it comes to vehicle emissions. The Euro 7 regulations were recognised as the strictest yet when plans were revealed in 2022. However, by the end of 2023, many of the tighter limits on tailpipe emissions had been removed, with the new requirements continuing the targets of Euro 6.

It is positive to note that Euro 7 will control ultrafine combustion particles (PN10) and for the first time, targets will be set for particulate matter from tyres and brakes.

However, the overall Euro 7 ambition with regards to exhaust emissions is disappointing.

For cars and vans, the provisional Euro 7 agreement settles with Euro 6 limits and test conditions for exhaust emissions, without further reductions in cold-start emissions. For trucks and buses, Euro VI test procedures are kept, with the exception of adjusting the low-power threshold. Limits are reduced, but this will not fully address significant shortcomings for cold-start operation in urban environments.

Euro 7 consequently falls short as a supporting tool for better air quality in European cities. Millions of vehicles with internal combustion engines will be sold in the next decades and these will not contribute to air quality improvements. Emission control technologies are available to further reduce emissions and there will be no incentives to bring these to the market.

The European Commission Euro 7 proposal was published on 10 November 2022.
On 18 December 2023, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the new rules.
On 8 May 2024, Regulation 2024/1257 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union and entered into force on 28 May 2024.

Euro 7 will apply to all new vehicles sold in the EU from the below listed implementation dates, including passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and heavy-duty on road vehicles such as trucks and buses.

• The dates of application of the Euro 7 regulation will depend on the kind of vehicle concerned:
• 30 months for new types of cars and vans, and 42 months for new cars and vans
• 48 months for new types of buses, trucks and trailers, and 60 months for new buses, lorries and trailers
• 30 months for new systems, components or separate technical units to be fitted in cars and vans, and 48 months for those to be fitted in buses, lorries and trailers

This means that the Euro 7 limits will begin to be adhered to from the start of 2027. With the EU looking to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, they will likely be the last set of Euro standards to regulate tailpipe emissions.