The European Union is preparing to implement a new emission standard for cars. Probably the last. What will be the effects of the regulation on motorists, cars and their manufacturers?
In 2035 it will come into force in the countries of the European Union the ban on the sale of new zero-emission cars. However, before that happens, another emissions standard for internal combustion vehicles needs to come into force. Euro 7 will be a turning pointthough not as radical as some ecologists believed. Despite this, the standard is criticized by some car manufacturers who consider it as such a further obstacle that will have to be overcome on the road to full electrification. After all, to develop ways to meet the new standard, manufacturers will have to spend money that could be spent on developing electric cars.
As calculated by Morgan Stanley, adjusting its offer to the Euro 7 standard the Volkswagen company can spend 400 million euros and Stellantis about 350 million euros. The new regulations will be the nail in the coffin for diesel cars in passenger cars and will also have a negative impact on the production profitability of smaller car models. Such vehicles are supposed to be economical by nature, so the need to install additional exhaust gas purification components or hybrid propulsion units means raising the price to an unattractive level.
According to plans, the new rules for passenger cars will take effect in July 2025 and for trucks and buses in 2027. What will change when the Euro 7 standard comes into force? The “Automotive News Europe” service has tried to summarize these problems.
As noted by ANE, the introduction of the standard will certainly improve air quality. The Euro 7 standard provides for a reduction in emissions harmful to health nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 35 percent against current standards. In the case of trucks and buses, it must go up to 56 percent. Particulate emissions are to be reduced by 27%. Furthermore, today’s regulations require a car to retain its legal value for five years or 100,000km. km. According to the new guidelines, that should be the case 10 years or 200,000 mileage.
Interestingly, as noted by “Automotive News Europe”, companies lobbying for companies in the emissions control sector, such as Johnson Matthey, NGK and Vitesco, have convinced politicians to much more hardline solutions. As you can easily guess, companies in this sector already have to think about the future profile of their business. The European Union authorities have compromised with the car manufacturers. This means that retrofitting future models won’t be as expensive as exhaust treatment companies probably want. After 2035, there will be almost no interest in such components.
For the first time the provisions of the standard will regulate the emission of particulate deriving from the abrasion of tires and brake pads. As for the latter, by 2035 it will be 7 mg/km, and from 2035 only 3 mg/km. The limit for worn tire dust has not yet been established. Companies in the tire sector and those specializing in the production of brake pads or discs will have to develop new products. Eventually, however, the costs will still be passed on to the buyers. Already today, Brembo declares that using the Greentive disc and pads with the right composition, dust emissions are halved.
Who will lose at Euro 7?
From an economic point of view, certainly a buyer. According to estimates, equipping a passenger car with adequate equipment to ensure compliance with the new standard it will cost 304 euros. At first glance, this doesn’t seem like a big expense. However, it’s worth remembering that this is the price for today. Within a few years, inflation could change this value significantly.
The real revolution, however, awaits trucks and buses. Here, the key role will be played by the need to reduce NOx emissions by up to 78%. – from the current 400 mg/km to 90 mg/km. This should mean an increase in the vehicle price of 2,700 euros. This is a very specific amount.
The Euro 7 standard will also mean in practice the end of the era of diesel engines in passenger cars. They can currently emit 80 mg of NOx per km. After the changes, the limit will be 60 mg/km. While this difference is only 25 percent, in practice it can only make diesels profitable in long-haul-focused models.
The introduction of a new emission standard is certainly a good decision from the point of view of cleaning the air in large cities. In times when it is increasingly difficult to keep up with rising prices, it will not win acclaim in the eyes of ordinary motorists, who will face even greater expenses. Furthermore, in less affluent EU countries, the entry into force of the regulation could mean that many people will use their old cars for longer.
