What You Need to Know About the Euro 7 Emissions Standards

With transport still being the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU— contributing almost a quarter of all emissions—there is still more to be done to tackle vehicle emissions. 

One such method is the Euro Emissions Standards. First introduced by the European Commission over thirty years ago, subsequent iterations have been brought in to reduce vehicle emissions and their environment impact. 

They have helped us to make great strides as today’s standards measure pollutants separately mean that a modern-day petrol car emits around sixteen times less NOx than a Euro 1-era car.

We are currently on the sixth iteration of the Euro Emission Standards, which in 2014 marked the first major crackdown on the pollution-causing diesel NOx. Over a decade later, an updated version is on the way…

What are the Euro 7 Emissions Standards?

The Euro 7 Emissions Standards, also referred to as Euro 7, is the latest iteration of the European Commission’s strategy to help reduce vehicle emissions. 

The new Euro 7 rules are the toughest yet and will cover every type of vehicle, including petrol, diesel, and electric models. Notably, these are the first standards to regulate 'hidden' pollution like dust from tyres and brakes, rather than just exhaust fumes.

Euro 7 Emissions Standards’ key features include:

• Extended Compliance Periods: Vehicles must now stay "clean" and compliant for 10 years or 200,000 km which is double the previous requirement!
• Battery Testing for EVs: For the first time, EVs and hybrids will undergo mandatory battery health checks to ensure they do not lose too much capacity as they age.
• Real-World Driving Conditions: Testing will now have even stricter conditions, accounting for short trips and extreme heat (up to 45°C) to ensure cars are performing in the real world as they are on paper.
• Broader Emission Limits: Whether powered by petrol, diesel or electric battery, the Euro 7 will set tougher, more consistent emission floors for every type of engine on the road.
• Hidden Pollution: While you might not see them, emissions are caused by “invisible” factors like microplastics, and dust shed by your brakes and tyres every journey. Euro 7 will now target these factors, helping the environment in fresh new ways.

Under the new standards, cars and vans are expected to see a 35% reduction in NOx and a 13% drop in tailpipe emissions. For lorries and buses, those figures improve significantly to 56% and 27%.

When will Euro 7 come into effect?

As there are various deadlines for different aspects, we have laid out all the information of when Euro 7 comes into effect into a handy timeline:

2026

November 29 = New Car & Van Models: Any brand-new car or van model launched on the market from this date must meet Euro 7 standards.

2027

November 29 = All New Cars & Vans: Every new car and van sold in dealerships must be Euro 7 compliant, even if the model was launched before 2026.

2028

May 29 = New Bus & Lorry Models: Any brand-new model of bus, lorry, or heavy trailer launched from this date must comply with Euro 7.

July 1 = Passenger Car Tyres: New standards regarding tire wear and particle emissions take effect for standard passenger car tyres (Class C1)—e.g. Volkswagen Golf,BMW 3 Series.

2029

May 29 = All New Buses & Lorries: Every new bus and lorry sold or registered must now meet the Euro 7 requirements.

2030

April 1 = Van Tyres: The new tire wear and particle emission standards begin for light commercial vehicle tyres (Class C2)—e.g. Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

2032

April 1 = Heavy-Duty Tyres: The final phase of tire standards takes effect for heavy-duty vehicle tyres (Class C3)—e.g. Refuse collection vehicles, fire engines.

Why is Euro 7 important?

The world of vehicles looks nothing like it did a decade ago—with EVs now being a common sight on our roads—making Euro 7 essential. It is a major milestone because it is the first standard to move beyond the tailpipe and tackle the environmental impact of the whole vehicle.

Let us break down why Euro 7 is important:

• Tackling Invisible Pollution: While exhaust fumes are a huge contributor to emissions, there have been “invisible” factors that previous standards ignored. Euro 7 mandates cleaner brake systems— as tiny metallic particles are released every time you brake—as well as tyre wear particle limits.
• Big Health Benefits: As mentioned earlier, cars and vans are expected to see a 35% reduction in NOx. This will help lower the rates of respiratory issues, heart disease, and other ailments in congested cities, caused by pollution.
• Reassurance For EV Drivers: Battery degradation has long been a fear for EV drivers and those who would like to make the change from their petrol/diesel vehicle. Euro 7 now implements a standard meaning a battery must retain 80% of its capacity after 5 years (or 100,000 km), giving EV drivers some peace of mind.

How are the Euro 7 Emissions Standards different to the Euro 6?

With each iteration building on the last, it is no surprise that a lot has changed from Euro 6 to Euro 7. Here are four key differences between Euro 7 Emissions and Euro 6 Emission Standards:

1. Broader Emissions Scope: Focus on tailpipe exhaust emissions, applied primarily to combustion engines [Euro 6] => Still regulates exhaust gases but adds tyre wear particle limits, brake particle emissions and now applies to electric vehicles as well as petrol and diesel [Euro 7]
2. Stricter Lifetime Durability: Emissions systems must comply for up to 100,000 km [Euro 6] => Emissions systems must comply for up to 200,000 km and 10 years [Euro 7]
3. Tougher Real-World Testing: Introduced Real Driving Emissions (RDE) testing [Euro 6] => Tightens test conditions further, applies emissions limits under a wider range of temperatures and driving styles [Euro 7]
4. Electric Vehicles: No brake or tyre emission rules for EVs and no specific battery durability requirements [Euro 6] => Sets minimum battery performance retention standards and regulates brake and tyre particle emissions for EVs [Euro 7]