In a significant step towards implementing the Agenda 2030, the European Union has announced a provisional agreement between the Council and the Parliament regarding Euro 7 regulations. This regulation, designed to standardize motor vehicles and engines, as well as associated systems, components, and technical units, establishes more stringent criteria for road vehicle emissions, including cars, vans, buses, and heavy vehicles.
Euro 7 emissions standards for cars, trucks and buses
Euro 7 regulations will retain the Euro 6 exhaust emission limits for cars and vans, but will introduce reductions for buses and trucks under the new Euro 7 emission standards. Additionally, emphasis was placed on setting limits for particles emitted by brakes, particularly in electric vehicles, an area not previously regulated by the EU.
Brake and tyre emissions: a new focus under Euro 7
The overarching goal of this regulation, according to the official statement from Brussels, is not only to reduce exhaust emissions from buses and trucks but also to control emissions from elements such as brakes and tires. In the long term, the aim is to facilitate the industry’s transition to vehicles with emissions close to zero by the year 2035.
Euro 7 battery durability and vehicle lifespan
Additionally, Euro 7 regulations set limits for battery durability, introducing a new parameter for vehicle homologation. This legislation integrates previously separate emission standards for cars and vans (Euro 6) and trucks and buses (Euro VI), consolidating standards that encompass both light and heavy vehicles.
The provisional agreement also introduces stricter lifespan requirements for all vehicles, extending the expected durability to 200,000 km or 10 years for cars and vans. This measure, aimed at influencing vehicle longevity, carries significant implications for manufacturers and owners who will be affected by this new criterion.
Euro 7 regulations mark a significant advancement by the European Union in combating road transport pollution, presenting substantial challenges for the automotive industry in adapting to these more stringent standards. This development represents a fundamental step towards a more comprehensive approach to emission reduction, establishing new guidelines for sustainability and efficiency in mobility.
However, the introduction of these new regulations poses a challenge for emissions standards in the automotive industry. This change holds particular significance for friction component manufacturers, such as rimsa, inspiring the necessary motivation to confront these challenges and take an active role in building a cleaner and more sustainable world.
In this context, our product, Ri-Lube, persists as an innovative solution to the new regulations. This additive is specifically designed to maintain braking efficiency across a wide temperature range while simultaneously reducing both wear and emissions from brake pads.
Euro 7 implementation date and compliance for manufacturers
The Euro 7 implementation date is set to be phased in over the second half of the decade, with cars and vans starting to fall under the new limits ahead of buses and trucks. From the moment each segment is covered, every newly homologated vehicle has to demonstrate compliance with the updated emission and durability tests in order to reach the European market.
For manufacturers, this means revisiting type-approval testing, updating brake formulations to meet the non-exhaust limits, and validating that battery packs hit the new durability thresholds across the full vehicle life. Friction component suppliers such as Rimsa are aligning their portfolio so that brake pads and additives meet the Euro 7 compliant-market criteria from the first day the regulation applies.
For detailed information on how Euro 7 regulations will specifically impact brake pads, click here.
