What Does Euro-7 Mean For Logistics?
With Euro-7 emissions standards set to be introduced before the end of 2025, UK hauliers will have to start preparing for yet another assortment of emissions regulations.
The rules will apply not just to trucks, but to cars, buses and vans too. According to Diesel Information, Euro-7 is an opportunity to introduce a regulatory framework that focuses on real-world emissions, improving European air quality and protecting the public’s health and well-being. Diesel Information also states that Euro-7 will “be biofuel and technology-neutral and legislate based on a total system approach and on a whole vehicle basis.”
This means that it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a 2-litre or a 7-litre Euro-7 engine, because the technology used inside both will be regulated in the same way. The ability for biofuels to power the new engines improves the transport sector’s sustainable credentials, and some hauliers may opt to ditch the diesel entirely in favour of greener options, like biodiesels made from olive and vegetable oil.
How Does Euro-7 Differ From Euro-6?
Euro-7 legislation differs from Euro-6 because the regulations concern the emissions generated by vehicles during real-world driving conditions. Currently, the measurement of on-road pollutant emissions data goes through post-processing, which excludes the highest emission levels. Conversely, Euro-7 will count the emissions emitted by HGVs and other heavy-duty vehicles that Euro-6 failed to acknowledge.
What Will Euro-7 Legislation Cover?
The European Union’s Euro-7 rules will measure a vehicle’s daily tailpipe emissions, which ensures emission control systems continue to evolve to cope with the variation in real-world pollutants.
When Will The Legislation Come into Force?
Said to be introduced around 2025, Euro-7 regulations will come into effect at a time when emission laws surrounding city and town centres are stricter than ever before. Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and Low Emission Zones are slowly being introduced across the country, too, the largest of which is in London.
Why Is Euro-7 Being Introduced?
The primary purpose of Euro-7 is to help reduce the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, while simultaneously lowering the risk to public health. The key, according to the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), is to create a “sustainable way of reducing air pollution using a coherent strategy”.
The EPHA also states that Euro-7 will see the introduction of the “most efficient internal combustion engines ever” ahead of 2030’s petrol and diesel ban. The Alliance adds that the new units will be “the healthiest and the lowest polluting” engines ever seen on UK roads, and probably the last.
Downsides Of Euro-7
Cost. When Euro-6 was introduced back in 2014, many hauliers’ fleets, especially in and around London due to incurring costs associated with operating in the capital, were subject to huge refreshes which left many out of pocket. But others were able to retrofit their Euro-5 trucks with devices that lowered the emissions of their engines, which made them compliant with Euro-6 standards. This costed considerably less than buying a new vehicle, too.
In summary, there is no doubt that Euro-7 welcomes a new era of efficiency and health-conscious powerplants that will help to improve the efficiency of fleets across the UK. But vehicles with these engines may prove more costly to purchase.
