MEPs support new Euro 7 rules to cut down pollutant emissions
Trucks in traffic
(BRUSSELS) - The European Parliament signalled its readiness Thursday to start talks with EU governments on new rules to reduce road transport emissions for passenger cars, vans, buses and trucks.
The MEPs in plenary session adopted their negotiating position on revamping EU rules for type-approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles (Euro 7).
Current emission limits apply to cars and vans (Euro 6) and to buses, trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI). As a novelty, the Euro 7 proposal tackles non-exhaust emissions (microplastics from tyres and particles from brakes) and includes requirements concerning battery durability.
The new regulation will update current limits for exhaust emissions (such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and ammonia), and will introduce new measures to reduce emissions from tyres and brakes, and increase battery durability.
MEPs agree with the levels proposed by the Commission for pollutant emissions for passenger cars and propose an additional breakdown of emissions into three categories for light commercial vehicles based on their weight. They also propose stricter limits on exhaust emissions measured in laboratory and in real driving conditions for buses and heavy-duty vehicles.
The Parliament also wants to align the EU's calculation methodologies and limits for brake particle emissions and tyre abrasion rates with international standards currently being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Further information, European Parliament