EU reaches agreement on weakening Euro 7

The weakening of the new Euro standard means in concrete terms that the Euro 6 standard will be adhered to as far as actual exhaust gases are concerned, reports Reuters. This was already the case for petrol cars, but provides slightly more room for diesels when it comes to NOx emissions. If Euro 6 is indeed retained, this will also relax the conditions in which the standards must be measured. Moreover, it would no longer be a requirement that cars once built continue to meet the standard for ten years, which was also part of Euro 7.

However, the new proposal maintains a standard regarding the harmful substances produced by tires and brakes. This is a worldwide first and means that for the first time the ’emissions’ of electric cars are also taken into account.

Also new: the standard will reportedly be tightened for trucks and buses. This is a deviation from the previous plan, because ‘Euro 7’ would be the first Euro standard according to the ‘equal monks, equal hoods’ principle.

According to the countries that came up with the proposal, including Italy, the Czech Republic and France, the original Euro 7 proposal would be counterproductive. It would cost a lot of money and effort for car manufacturers to comply, compared to what these countries consider to be a small gain for air quality. Moreover, these countries said, that money and attention could better be invested in the ultimate solution to the car emissions problem, which is known to be sought in the electric corner. The reasoning goes that it’s a shame to put so much effort into a drivetrain that is doomed anyway.

As we have come to expect from the EU, the agreement between the various countries does not mean that there is now a definitive plan. The European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission must now come to a definitive new plan for the Euro 7 standard, which according to current plans will come into effect on July 1, 2025.