The European Commission began work on the development of a new set of ‘Euro 7’ emissions requirements in 2018, with the intention of developing a single new emissions Regulation which would replace the existing Euro 6 light duty vehicle and Euro VI heavy duty vehicle emissions Regulations. Following much research, information gathering and consultations with relevant stakeholders, in November 2022, the European Commission published a draft proposal for this new Regulation which was presented to the European Parliament and the European Council for their consideration. Since that time, this draft Regulation has been reviewed and debated within both the European Parliament and the European Council, and has been subject to ‘trialogue’ negotiations between all three institutions; European Commission, European Parliament and European Council.
The finally agreed Regulation which resulted from all of these discussions and negotiations was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 8, 2024 as Regulation No. (EU) 2024/1257, with the official title ‘type-approval of motor vehicles and engines and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7), amending Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulations (EC) No. 715/2007 and (EC) No. 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EU) No. 582/2011, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1362’.
Due to the wide variety of vehicle categories and individual requirements covered within this new Regulation, it is not possible to include details on all of the new ‘Euro 7’ requirements in this article. However, the following is a brief summary of some of the key amendments and new requirements compared to the existing Euro 6 and Euro VI requirements:
Single emissions Regulation covering all vehicle categories - Unlike the Euro 6/Euro VI emissions requirements, which were specified within two separate Regulations, the Euro 7 requirements are contained in a single Regulation which covers all M and N category vehicles, i.e. passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, vans, pick up trucks, heavy trucks, buses and coaches, plus heavy trailers of categories O3 and O4 The intention of this change was to simplify the emissions requirements by incorporating all of the emissions requirements into one Regulation. However, it should be noted that a large number of separate Implementing Regulations will be required to provide the detailed technical requirements, test procedures and administrative processes necessary for the implementation of these requirements.
Emissions test procedures and pollutant emissions limits - As with the Euro 6/Euro VI emissions requirements, different exhaust emissions test procedures and limits are specified for light duty vehicles and for heavy duty vehicles. For light duty vehicles (predominantly all M1 and N1 category vehicles), the applicable test procedures and tailpipe emissions limits are essentially unchanged from those specified by Euro 6 (specifically Euro 6e). However, whereas the Euro 6 limit on particulate matter (PM) emissions applied to particulates with a diameter greater than 23nm (PM23), under the Euro 7 requirements, that same limit now applies to all particulates with a diameter greater than 10nm (PM10). For heavy duty vehicles (basically all M2, M3, N2 and N3 category vehicles), the applicable test procedures remain essentially unchanged from those specified by Euro VI. However, the stringency of most of the applicable emissions limits has been increased and new emissions limits have been introduced for non-methane organic gases (NMOG) and nitrous oxide (N20).
Revised ‘lifetime’ requirements - The Euro 7 Regulation introduces some revisions to the specified ‘main lifetime’ of vehicles, i.e. the time period/distance over which the vehicle must continue to comply with the applicable emissions requirements. Notably, for M1, M2 and N1 category vehicles type approved to the light duty emissions requirements, the ‘main lifetime’ is increased from 5 years/100,000km to 8 years/160,000km. In addition, the Euro 7 Regulation introduces the concept of ‘additional lifetime’, and specifies ‘additional lifetime’ time periods/distances for each vehicle category. Over this ‘additional lifetime’, the vehicle must comply with the applicable emissions limits multiplied by a ‘durability multiplier’. Currently, the Regulation only specifies a ‘durability multiplier’ for the gaseous pollutants of M1, M2 and N1 category vehicles. Other ‘durability multipliers’ will be added by future amendments to the Regulation.
Onboard Monitoring (OBM) Systems - The Euro 7 Regulation requires all vehicles to be equipped with an onboard monitoring (OBM) system which is capable of monitoring and registering the vehicle’s exhaust emissions whilst the vehicle is in operation. In the case of M1 and N1 category vehicles, the OBM system must monitor the exhaust emissions of both the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). In the case of M2, M3, N2 and N3 category vehicles, the OBM system must monitor the exhaust emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and ammonia (NH3). Whenever the OBM system detects an exceedance of at least 2.5 times the relevant exhaust emissions limit, it must trigger a driver warning system to encourage the timely repair of the vehicle. Additionally, the OBM system must capable of communicating data of the ‘in use’ exhaust emissions performance of the vehicle via the onboard diagnostic (OBD) system port and ‘over the air’ for the purposes of roadworthiness testing and ‘in use’ emissions compliance assessments.
Particulate emissions from tyre wear - In a radical departure from previous European emissions Regulations, the Euro 7 Regulation introduces limits on the particulate emissions from sources other than the exhaust system, i.e. from the tyres and brakes fitted to the vehicle. Currently, there are no Regulations which specify test methods or limits on the particulate emissions from tyres. However, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) are currently drafting specific requirements for a tyre abrasion test. Therefore, based on the assumption that the UN ECE will have finalised development of the necessary test procedures and limits in time, the Euro 7 Regulation requires tyre abrasion testing to be carried out in accordance with those UN ECE test procedures and limits.
Particulate emissions from brake wear - In addition to the particulate emissions requirements on tyres, the Euro 7 Regulation also introduces requirements on the particulate emissions from the vehicle’s braking system. For these requirements, the Euro 7 Regulation requires testing to be carried out in accordance with UN ECE Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 24 on the measurement of brake emissions for light duty vehicles. Currently, GTR No. 24 only covers light duty vehicles, but development of an equivalent test procedure for heavy duty vehicles is currently underway within the UN ECE. For the initial implementation of this requirement to light duty vehicles, the Euro 7 Regulation specifies the following brake particulate emissions limits for light duty vehicles:
| Vehicle Category / Class | Powertrain Type | Emissions Limit |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | Pure electric vehicle | 3 mg/km |
| Other than pure electric vehicle | 7 mg/km | |
| N1 Classes I and II | Pure electric vehicle | 3 mg/km |
| Other than pure electric vehicle | 7 mg/km | |
| N1 Class III | Pure electric vehicle | 5 mg/km |
| Other than pure electric vehicle | 11 mg/km |
New requirements on battery durability - In another radical departure from previous European emissions Regulations, and recognising the ongoing transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to pure electric vehicles, the Euro 7 Regulation introduces requirements on the durability of traction batteries for pure electric vehicles and for hybrid electric vehicles which are capable of off vehicle charging. The test procedures for determining the durability of the traction battery are based on those specified in United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 22, and the Euro 7 Regulation specifies limits on the maximum degradation in energy capacity that the traction battery must comply with after prescribed time periods/distances covered. For the initial implementation of this requirement to light duty vehicles, the Euro 7 Regulation specifies the following battery durability requirements for light duty vehicles:
| Vehicle Category | Minimum Battery Energy Capacity up to 5 years or 100,000 km | Minimum Battery Energy Capacity up to 8 years or 160,000 km |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | 80% | 72% |
| N1 | 75% | 67% |
Mandatory compliance dates – With regard to mandatory compliance with the Euro 7 emissions requirements, (EU) 2024/1257 specifies the following implementation dates:
- From November 29, 2026, compliance with the Euro 7 emissions requirements becomes mandatory for all new types of M1 and N1 category vehicle and, from November 29, 2027, compliance becomes mandatory for all new vehicles falling into those categories. However, for small volume manufacturers, this ‘all new vehicles’ date is delayed until July 1, 2030.
- From May 29, 2028, compliance with the Euro 7 emissions requirements becomes mandatory for all new types of M2, M3, N2, N3, O3 and O4 category vehicle and, from May 29, 2029, compliance becomes mandatory for all new vehicles falling into those categories. However, for small volume manufacturers, this ‘all new vehicles’ date is delayed until July 1, 2031.
With regard to mandatory compliance with the Euro 7 requirements on tyre abrasion, (EU) 2024/1257 specifies the following implementation dates:
- From July 1, 2028, compliance with the Euro 7 tyre abrasion requirements becomes mandatory for all new types of C1 class tyre and, from July 1, 2030, compliance becomes mandatory for all new C1 class tyres being placed on the market.
- From April 1, 2030, compliance with the Euro 7 tyre abrasion requirements becomes mandatory for all new types of C2 class tyre and, from April 1, 2032, compliance becomes mandatory for all new C2 class tyres being placed on the market.
- From April 1, 2032, compliance with the Euro 7 tyre abrasion requirements becomes mandatory for all new types of C3 class tyre and, from April 1, 2034, compliance becomes mandatory for all new C3 class tyres being placed on the market.