The European Parliament, by 297 votes to 190, with 37 abstentions, approved the agreement reached with the Council of the EU on the Euro-7 regulation (type approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles). Vehicles will have to meet the new standards for longer, so they will remain environmentally friendly throughout their lifetime.
The Euro 7 standard, which has yet to be formally approved by the Council of the European Union, also introduces minimum performance and durability requirements for batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles.
The new rules, approved by MEPs at a meeting on Wednesday, are aimed at reducing exhaust emissions from cars, vans, buses, trucks and trailers. Greenhouse gas emissions from trucks are projected to drop by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 2019. The regulation, which has yet to be formally approved by the EU Council, will apply from 2028 to trucks and buses.
For passenger cars and minibuses, the current conditions of Euro-6 tests and restrictions on exhaust gas emissions will be preserved. "For buses and trucks, stricter limits on exhaust gas emissions measured in laboratories and in real driving conditions will be applied, while maintaining the current Euro 6 testing conditions," the European Parliament statement explained.
For the first time, EU standards will include limits on emissions of particulate matter (PM10) for passenger cars and minibuses, as well as minimum battery life requirements for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Balance achieved?
The speaker of the regulation before the plenary session, Czech member of the European Parliament Aleksandr Vondra, claims that the balance between environmental goals and the interests of producers has been achieved.
We want to ensure the availability of new commercial vehicles with internal combustion engines, while helping the automotive industry prepare for the expected transformation of its sector. Now the EU will also take into account emissions from brakes and tires, as well as guarantee that batteries will last longer," Vondra comments.
More than just legislation is needed
According to the association of car manufacturers ACEA, the vote in the European Parliament for Euro-7 strengthens the position of Europe as a world leader in the field of emission standards for cars, minibuses, trucks and buses.
Today's vote for Euro-7 focused on the most important - the challenges of the future, such as emissions from the brakes of cars and trucks and the requirements for batteries for electric vehicles," Sigrid de Vries, Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), said after the vote.
Vris also added:
But don't be fooled: the Euro 7 standard continues to tighten emissions requirements and test procedures. In particular, truck and bus manufacturers will face much tougher rules as they already face the daunting task of meeting the fast-approaching 2030 decarbonisation targets in the absence of the necessary enabling conditions.”
According to ACEA, the world's strictest emissions standards come at a critical time when the European automotive industry is transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric powertrains.
European manufacturers also face stiff competition from China and the US, rising costs of doing business in Europe and an inconsistent regulatory framework that inevitably undermines European competitiveness.
It should be recalled what progress has been achieved to date: greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 90 percent. between the first version of the Euro standard and the first version of the Euro-6 standard.
Vehicle manufacturers and decision makers together can be proud of many achievements in the field to date. But to really achieve the Euro 7 target, policymakers must do more to replace older, polluting vehicles on the roads with newer models equipped with the latest emission-reducing technology. It is not only about incentives to increase the demand for new vehicles on the market, but also about the creation of a comprehensive legal framework that will make mobility accessible to all Europeans," ACEA emphasizes.