Status: 10/25/2022 10:27 am
According to media reports, the EU Commission is planning stricter emission standards for cars, trucks and buses. That could make the air cleaner, but also make vehicles significantly more expensive. There is already criticism.
Cars and especially trucks could become noticeably more expensive as a result of the planned new Euro 7 emissions standard. According to an impact assessment by the responsible EU Commission, the regulation-related costs for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles are estimated at 304 euros each, as can be seen from a document available to dpa. For trucks and buses, an amount of 2681 euros is even mentioned for the preferred regulation option.
Criticism of the timing of the EU Commission
On the other hand, according to the calculations, there are significant health and environmental benefits. They are estimated at up to 55.8 billion or even up to 133.6 billion euros over 25 years and are explained primarily by a reduction in harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM2.5). According to the EU Commission, the total regulation-related costs for manufacturers of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles during this period only amount to around 35.5 billion euros, and for trucks and buses to 17.5 billion euros.
Criticism is already coming from the European Parliament. “The timing couldn’t be more inconvenient: the world is on fire, inflation is sending prices soaring, businesses and citizens are groaning under soaring energy prices, and the Commission is proposing new emissions standards that will ultimately lower the price of cars and, most importantly, let trucks and buses continue to soar,” comments CSU MEP Markus Ferber.
This is also absurd because according to the current plans, de facto no more combustion engines should come onto the market in the future, according to the politician. From 2035, cars that emit CO2 will no longer be allowed to be registered in the EU. However, this is regulated via the fleet consumption and not via the emission standard – which is then no longer applicable for new cars. According to a draft regulation, however, the old limit values of the Euro 6 standard could also be adopted for petrol cars. This would allow manufacturers to avoid high investments in new emission reduction systems for combustion engines.
Different categories planned
After preliminary planning, the responsible EU Commission intends to present its proposal for the tightened emissions standard on November 9th. In particular, it should also take into account new vehicle technologies and ensure that emissions are measured in real time. Additional classes are also being considered: for example, the Euro 7+ category is intended for cars whose batteries last at least ten percent longer than specified by law or which emit at least ten percent fewer pollutants than the new Euro 7 standard specifies, reports the ” Handelsblatt”.
In addition, categories 7A and 7G are planned: the first for cars with a flexible emission control system and the second for hybrid cars that automatically switch to zero-emissions mode in environmental zones. The car manufacturers should also be able to combine these classes with one another.
The ADAC criticizes the division into different categories. “Further splitting up into various Euro 7 supplements would complicate the system completely,” said Technical President Karsten Schulze of “Bild”. In addition, it would further increase the cost of vehicles. “Clean air and CO2 reduction are absolutely crucial issues that we absolutely have to promote with a view to people’s health and climate protection,” said the expert. For implementation, however, clarity is needed in the setting of objectives.
Emissions standard started in 1992
According to information from Brussels, the exact level of future emission limits is still being discussed. According to “Handelsblatt”, the EU Commission promises not to make the guidelines too restrictive: “In the light of the current political and economic circumstances” they have revised their proposal again. Because the costs of energy and raw materials have risen dramatically, while the demand for cars has fallen. The pressure on the auto industry is unprecedented.
The classification into pollutant classes was introduced in order to gradually make car exhaust emissions cleaner. In the EU, new car models must meet emission standards in order to be registered. With Euro 7, the concentration of pollutants should be further reduced. The emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides as well as particulate matter are regulated, for example.
The limit values were introduced in 1992 with Euro 1, and Euro 6 has been in force since 2015. Drivers can find out the emission class of their car from the vehicle registration document. The new Euro 7 standard will come into force in 2025 at the earliest. After the plans have been presented, the approval of the European Parliament and the Council of the Member States is still required.