Negotiators from the EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed on the new Euro-7 environmental standards for the approval of new vehicles on European roads. This time, the criteria for exhaust gases remain almost the same as the current Euro-6, except for buses and trucks.
Limits are set on the maximum amount of rubber microplastic from tires and metal from brake discs that can enter the environment. Previous studies have shown that air quality and the living environment along busy streets and roads are significantly worse and harmful to residents.
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With the rules on rubber dust, brake discs, and battery lifespan, the EU environmental criteria are for the first time also applicable to electric vehicles. According to current EU decisions, new fossil fuel cars can no longer be approved after 2035. Vehicles must also last longer in the future.
The new Euro 7 emission standard introduces minimum requirements for the durability of batteries in electric and hybrid cars (80% capacity retention from the start of life until five years or 100,000 km, and 72% up to eight years or 160,000 km) and vans (75% from the start of life until five years or 100,000 km, and 67% up to eight years or 160,000 km).
The text further provides for the introduction of an Environmental Vehicle Passport containing information about environmental performance (at the time of registration!) such as limit values for pollutants, CO2 emissions, fuel and electricity consumption, electric range, and battery durability.
Vehicle users must also always have access to current information about fuel consumption, battery status, and other relevant data from onboard systems and monitors. New vehicles must be designed in a way that prevents tampering with digitized control systems.