Eight European Union (EU) member states are opposing the Euro 7 emissions requirements that the European Commission wants to introduce. The countries want to weaken the standard, arguing that it does not support a transition to an emission-free car industry.
This has been reported by Reuters, which has obtained a joint letter from the eight EU Member States addressed to other EU members. The letter is signed by Bulgaria, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The countries argue that the plans surrounding the Euro 7 standard are not sustainable in practice. For example, car manufacturers would have to spend a great deal of money on making internal combustion engines cleaner. They could otherwise spend this money on developing zero-emission vehicles.
Cut harmful emissions
This puts the EU member states' views at odds with those of the European Commission. Instead, the commission wants the Euro 7 standard to reduce harmful emissions from vehicles. The Euro 7 standard also entails stricter requirements around emissions testing. In practice, this means, among other things, that car manufacturers must build into vehicles a monitoring system that monitors harmful emissions. With this, the European Commission wants to prevent a repeat of the emissions scandal - also known as dieselgate.
What's in the Euro 7 standard?
In particular, the Euro 7 standard brings stricter requirements around nitrogen emissions from internal combustion engines. The rules only apply to new vehicles, and not to existing vehicles circulating on European roads. Maximum nitrogen emissions - regardless of fuel - are set at 60 mg per kilometre. It also stipulates that vehicles must continue to meet this standard for 10 years and 200,000 kilometres. That deadline is currently five years and 100,000 kilometres.
This makes the standard stricter than its predecessor, especially when it comes to diesel cars. For instance, the maximum emissions from diesel vehicles in the Euro 6d standard is still set at 80 mg per kilometre. So this will become 60 mg per kilometre. This limit has existed for petrol cars for some time.
Another change from the current rules is the amount of particulate matter. The limit for PM10 remains the same in the Euro 7 standard at 7 mg/km until 2034. After that year, it will change to 3 mg/km. However, particulates due to tyre wear and brake dust will now also count.
The allowed amount of CO for petrol cars is also stricter in the Euro 7 standard than it is now. The maximum CO emission limit halves from 1,000 to 500 mg per kilometre for petrol vehicles. For diesel vehicles, this limit remains the same at 500 mg per kilometre. The maximum amount of carbon water emissions (THC) is set at 100 mg per kilometre. For NMHC (Non-Methane HydroCarbons / hydrocarbons other than methane), the emission limit is 68 mg per km for both petrol and diesel vehicles.
Longstanding criticism
Many car manufacturers have long been critical of the Euro 7 standard. Volkswagen, for example, earlier warned that adapting its engines to the new standard will take years. It does not expect to meet the standard in time. In practice, this could lead to months of production stops, Volkswagen fears.
Other carmakers are also critical. Consider Audi, which back in March advocated delaying the introduction of the Euro 7 standard. Top executive Markus Duesmann argues that the European Commission is not giving carmakers enough time to prepare for the Euro 7 standard.
'Jobs at stake'
Skoda also warned of production stops due to the arrival of the Euro 7 standard. It fears having to close a factory due to the new standard, which could put some 3,000 jobs at risk. Another example is Mercedes-Benz, which also warned of job losses. Ergun Lümali, head of Mercedes-Benz's works council, warned as recently as February that thousands of jobs are at stake due to the standard.
The carmakers are getting support from Europe's European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Luca de Meo, president of the industry association, previously spoke out against the standard. For instance, De Meo pointed to the high investments that meeting the Euro 7 standard requires. According to the top executive, these investments do not outweigh the environmental benefits Euro 7 offers. ACEA advocates an unambiguous policy and encouraging a transition to an emission-free car industry.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Free-Photos via Pixabay
