EU proposes Euro VI emission standards
4 January 2008
The European Commission has published a formal proposal for Euro VI emission standards for on-road heavy-duty engines. The proposal calls for an 80% reduction of NOx and a 66% reduction of the PM emission limit, relative to Euro V legislation, effective 2013/2014.
Under the proposal, the Euro VI emission standards become effective from 1 April 2013 for new type approvals, and from 1 October 2014 for all models. The emission limits—aligned with US 2010 emission standards—are identical to those in the initial Commission proposal published in November 2007.
The proposed limit value for PM emissions is 0.01 g/kWh. Given current technology, this limit will require particulate filters to be fitted to all diesel vehicles. A new NOx limit of 0.4 g/kWh has been proposed, which will require increased use of engine technology (e.g., exhaust gas recirculation) and aftertreatment technology (e.g., SCR catalysts).
The PM emission limit can be met using open or closed filters, said the Commission. Close filters have the benefit of reducing ultra fine particles that are considered most harmful to health. To prevent the possibility that the Euro VI PM mass limit is met using open filters that would enable a high number of ultra fine particles to pass, it is planned to introduce at a later stage a new particle number standard, in addition to the mass based limit. The particle number standard would be introduced once the final results of the UN/ECE Particulate Measurement Programme (PMP) become available.
The proposal also indicates that a maximum limit for the NO2 component of NOx emissions may be defined at a later time.
In addition to more stringent emission limits, the proposal introduces provisions on off-cycle emissions, on-board diagnostic, access to repair information, increased durability of emission control devices (consistent with the initial proposal), replacement pollution control devices, conformity of in-service engines and vehicles, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption measurement.
Source: European Commission