Several EU countries have reservations regarding Euro 7
Eight countries, including France, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia, have expressed reservations about the introduction of the Euro 7 standard. The costs would be too high compared with the benefits.
This is because of the colossal investment required, both for builders and future owners. At the same time, the benefits will be small. This is why these countries have opposed any tightening of the rule, in a working document : „We are opposed to any new rules on exhaust gases (including new obligations on test conditions or new emission limits) for cars and light commercial vehicles”.
1,000 to 3,000 euros more per car with Euro 7 ?
The Euro 7 standard could represent an additional cost of €1,000, according to Gilles le Borgne, Renault’s Director of Engineering, in May 2022. The head of the Volkswagen brand, Thomas Schäfer, was expecting an increase of between €3,000 and €5,000.
The proposal of the European Commission
The new Euro 7 emission standards will ensure that cars, vans, lorries and buses are much cleaner, in real driving conditions that better reflect the situation in cities where air pollution problems are largest, and for a much longer period than under current rules. The proposal tackles emissions from tailpipes as well as from brakes and tyres. It also contributes to achieving the new stricter air quality standards proposed by the Commission on 26 October 2022.
The proposal replaces and simplifies previously separate emission rules for cars and vans (Euro 6) and lorries and buses (Euro VI). The Euro 7 standards rules bring emission limits for all motor vehicles, i.e., cars, vans, buses and lorries under a single set of rules. The new rules are fuel- and technology-neutral, placing the same limits regardless of whether the vehicle uses petrol, diesel, electric drive-trains or alternative fuels.
