2021 will see a decision on the future Euro 7 emissions standard

A committee of experts proposes much stricter values, some people smell the end of the combustion engine

Is the new emissions standard a "declaration of war on diesel and petrol"? https://www.spiegel.de/auto/abgasnorm-euro-7-eine-kriegserklaerung-an-diesel-und-benziner-a-6595079c-66b6-4862-894d-9a24d6c4b661

A new study has been prepared by a European expert group, the "Advisory Group on Vehicle Emission Standards"

The research group's 66-page document contains proposals for redesigning the next emissions standard

It is based on tests of various passenger cars meeting the Euro 6d-temp and 6d emission standards

Above all the new standard should significantly reduce emissions of harmful Nitrogen Oxides NOx which are also responsible for diesel driving bans imposed in some places

Only 10 or 30 milligrams of nitrogen oxides instead of 80

In the future, new cars are to be allowed to emit only 30 milligrams of nitrogen oxides per kilometre; in a second scenario outlined in the study it would even be only 10 milligrams

So far, petrol engines are allowed to emit 60 milligrams per kilometre and diesel engines even 80 milligrams per kilometre

In addition to the NOx values, further pollutant emissions are to be reduced

At the same time, the so-called RDE test, which checks compliance with the pollutant limit values in real driving conditions, is to be made considerably stricter :

- the permitted ambient temperature is to be extended from -7 to +35 degrees Celsius to -10 to +40 degrees Celsius

- a cold-start bonus granted up to now is to be abolished

- the altitude restriction of the tests to a maximum of 1600 metres is to be abolished

- conditions that have so far been excluded from RDE tests, such as short distances, stop-and-go traffic and heavy acceleration or towing a trailer, will also be allowed to be part of the tests in future

- in addition the limit values are to be maintained over 15 years or 240,000 kilometres of mileage instead of 160,000 kilometres as is currently the case

- at the same time, measurement tolerances granted for mobile measurements are to be eliminated

An unnamed insider described the proposal to the "Bild" newspaper as a "declaration of war on diesel and petrol engines"

The President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, Hildergard Müller, also warned the German Press Agency of a fatal blow :

“With the introduction of the planned EU-7 standard, the EU Commission will de facto ban cars with combustion engines from 2025”

The ADAC also sees a considerable need for discussion but welcomes the further adjustment of limit values, said Karsten Schulze, President of the German Automobile Association

However these should be technically feasible and "not manoeuvre the combustion engine out of control", Schulze said

But what would be the real consequences of stricter limits ?

And is it true that they can not really be achieved ?

Stefan Carstens from exhaust specialist EngineSens Motorsensor considers the proposal to be technically feasible

“30 milligrams NOx per kilometre are already undercut by many models even in the RDE cycle," says Carstens

The exhaust expert argues that the value does not surprise him

Moreover, China has already submitted a limit value of 35 milligrams per kilometre

That the significantly lower value, at least for nitrogen oxides, can already be achieved today is also shown by measurement data from the ADAC

Several vehicles in RDE tests conducted by the automobile club were well below the 30 milligram limit

A BMW 520d Touring and an Opel Astra 1.6 D achieved a value of 1 milligram NOx per kilometre in ADAC tests, a Mercedes C220d even reached zero grams - but under less stringent test conditions than those now proposed

So it’s not the end for diesel and petrol engines

"The proposed limit values for carbon monoxide, methane and particulate matter are also feasible," says Carstens

The longer service life of 240,000 kilometres is also no problem, he says

In the USA, a similar value of 150,000 miles or approximately 241,400 km already applies, Carstens said

“The proposed limit values for Euro 7 would not be the end of diesel and petrol cars, nor are they a nail in the coffin," the exhaust expert concludes

However, they will make exhaust aftertreatment and thus the entire vehicle more expensive, admits Carstens - making e-cars more competitive