According to a new proposal for the European Euro 7 emissions standard, this stricter standard would not mean the end of the combustion engine, as was previously thought.
The Euro 7 standard is to be introduced in 2025. Car manufacturers see that year approaching with fear and trembling, because it previously seemed that 2025 would be the last year for the combustion engine in Europe.
The Euro 7 standard is said to be so strict that it is impossible to meet it with a combustion engine. The problem is not only with the emission standards themselves, but especially with the fear that cars should remain below a certain maximum under all conceivable circumstances. That is not feasible in practice, is the general view of car manufacturers.
from 10 to 30
According to our German colleagues at AutoBild however, the soup is not eaten that hot. Nitrogen oxide emissions would not be reduced to 10 milligrams, but to 20 or 30 milligrams. That is still considerably lower than the current 80 milligrams, but considerably less unfeasible than 10.
PHEV and EV
With regard to CO2 emissions, nothing would have changed compared to previously presented plans. With a proposed 66 percent drop from the current fleet average of 95 grams, plug-in hybrids and EVs are the only ways to meet the new standard.
You can also be too strict
The German transport minister had already warned against the initially proposed super-strict standards and that also applies to BMW and the Verband der Automobillindustrie, an advocate of the German car industry. These parties argue that strict standards are necessary in themselves, but that their technical feasibility must be considered.
Moreover, it must be prevented that the new solutions are so expensive that motorists simply use their old car longer. That is bad for the turnover of the car manufacturers, but of course also for the actual emissions figures.