What do we know about the EURO7 regulation?

The Euro 7 standard will cover the measurement of pollutant emissions (NOX, particles), which are currently already measured in Euro 6, through laboratory and road tests, as well as other new gases (NMOG, NH3, N2O, CH4, …). This new standard will take into account new vehicle technologies and will ensure that emissions are measured in real time.

The Euro 7 standard affects all vehicles equipped with gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines. However, the regulations will also include new technologies associated with alternative, low-emission and zero-emission fuels.

The EURO standards were born in 1988 with EURO 0 (currently, number 6 is in force) and from there they have evolved and raised the level of demand when it comes to regulating the acceptable limits for emissions from vehicles on the market within the EU. These legislations have precipitated the arrival of elements such as catalysts, particle filters or SCR catalysts. Currently, based on the propulsion system of each vehicle, a series of environmental labels are established that allow restricting traffic in certain areas of cities.

The vehicle of the future will be “green” or it will not be. Or at least this is the roadmap that marks the great climate project that the European Commission launched last July and with which it intends to put an end to the sale of combustion cars in 2035 and whose ultimate objective is to achieve the long-awaited neutral carbon footprint in 2050. This situation has forced European manufacturers to focus their efforts on accelerating the electrification of their models, which will be even more precipitated with the application of the strict Euro 7 environmental regulations, starting in 2025.

In this context, more and more manufacturers are launching themselves to electrify their models and adapt them to future mobility needs. The Spanish Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers (ANFAC) responds to the main questions about this new environmental standard and its possible effects.

The entry into force of the Euro 7 standard is scheduled for July 1, 2025 for passenger cars and vans. For trucks and buses there will be two more years of margin, until July 1, 2027.

The Euro 7 standard will affect all vehicles equipped with gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines. However, the regulations will also include new technologies associated with alternative, low-emission and zero-emission fuels.

In principle, this new Euro 7 standard will only affect the sale of new vehicles by limiting the maximum pollutant emissions that can be generated through circuit and road tests that are more demanding than the previous ones.

The Euro 7 standard will establish limits for brake and tire particles. In addition, the control of emissions will be carried out throughout the entire useful life of the vehicle, set at 15 years and 240,000 kilometers, also monitoring it remotely through OBD; that is, through the diagnostic system integrated into the vehicle's computer, guaranteeing that the emission limits are met at all times.

The entry into force of the new Euro 7 passenger vehicle emissions standard, scheduled for the period 2025/2026, will replace the current standard in force: Euro 6D. The new regulations are expected to impose even stricter emission limits on manufacturers.

The stricter Euro 7 standard is part of the European Union's overall objective of achieving CO2 neutrality by 2050. It represents an attempt to accelerate the shift towards reducing the carbon footprint, which we are already seeing in the automotive industry.

In summary, the Euro 7 standard is one more step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility. With its application, the aim is to reduce polluting emissions and accelerate the transition towards cleaner and more efficient technologies.