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Euro 7 exhaust emission standard

It is well known that traffic is the biggest source of air pollution. This is why exhaust emission standards exist for different drive types. Now the EU commission submitted a new proposal for the exhaust emission standard. Cars should produce less contaminants like fine dust and nitrogen oxides in the future, so that stricter limits on harmful emissions of cars, busses and trucks are to be envisaged. The emissions standard is to apply to all new cars sold in the EU from July 2025. However, the new standards will not apply to busses and trucks until 2027. Cars with diesel engines are most affected. Instead of 80 milligrams of nitric oxide only 60 milligrams should be consumed per kilometre driven. Since e-cars also generate particulate matter through tire and brake abrasion, they are also to be given limit values, as well as the battery must have a minimum of service life. Fortunately, the specifications have not been made even stricter – the reason for this is the switch to complete e-mobility, which is planned by 2035 anyway. Accordingly, manufacturers have little interest in investing much more money in optimization. However, the ADAC, for example, is calling for even more far-reaching specifications in some cases. For example, pollutants that have not yet been tested, such as ammonia, should also be measured. In general, according to the company, it would be better to develop new test methods in order to be able to measure more specific pollutant emissions in principle. To be mentioned is furthermore, that cars will be definitely more expensive because of stricter requirements.
But whether one should now have an older diesel vehicle converted is questionable. Many cities have already imposed a driving ban on such vehicles. Technically, it would be perfectly possible to retrofit the vehicles so that they produce fewer pollutants. Financially, however, this makes less sense, as the conversion would involve several thousand euros of effort, although Mercedes and VW, for example, are committed to making a financial contribution if customers would otherwise be affected by a driving ban.