Euro 7 Standards – What are they?
Euro standards are emissions regulations established by the European Union to regulate and control pollutant emissions from vehicles. These regulations set the maximum permissible limits for various pollutants emitted by vehicles.
In April 2024, the EU approved the new Euro 7 regulations, which update EU emissions standards for new vehicles sold within the European Union, with the aim of reducing air pollution.
The regulations will affect passenger cars, vans, commercial vehicles, and buses, with different limits depending on the engine type. Currently, only emissions limits for passenger cars and vans have been established. Limits for vehicles over 3,500 kg, trucks, and buses have not yet been set, but will be established in the future.
Implementation Dates
Euro 7 will come into effect on November 29, 2026, for newly launched passenger cars and vans (M1 and N1), and on November 29, 2027, for passenger cars and vans (M1 and N1) already in production.
Main aspects
The maximum emissions limits of Euro 6-D remain in place.
- CO2: 120g/km for gasoline vehicles and 90g/km for diesel vehicles.
- NOx: 60mg/km for gasoline vehicles and 80mg/km for diesel vehicles.
Particulate Emissions from Tires and Brakes:
For the first time, European regulations will govern particulate emissions from brakes (pads and discs), in addition to tires. Euro 7 will affect all vehicles, including electric vehicles.
Euro 7 stipulates that particulate emissions will be measured through tests in accordance with the United Nations Global Technical Regulation (UN GTR) No. 24 on brake emissions.
This UN GTR uses the World Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) to characterize particulate emissions. This UN procedure, as is typical, does not define emission limit values.
The Euro 7 standard states:
- The type approval test will be carried out on a dynamometer, in accordance with the aforementioned WLTP procedure.
- The current PM10 emission limit (particulates with a size equal to or less than 10 µm) is as follows:
M1: Vehicles with a maximum of 8 seats (excluding the driver’s seat) designed and manufactured for the transport of passengers.
N1: Vehicles with a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tons, designed and manufactured for the transport of goods. This category is divided into 3 classes based on weight: N1-I (mass <1,305 kg), N1-II (up to 1,760 kg), or N1-III (from 1,760 to 3,500 kg).
M2, M3: Vehicles with more than 8 seats, in addition to the driver’s seat, designed and manufactured for the transport of passengers.
N2, N3: Vehicles with a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tons, designed and manufactured for the transport of goods.
VEP: Pure electric vehicles.
VEH-CCE: Hybrid electric vehicles with external charging; hybrids that can be charged from an external source.
VEH-SCE: Non-consumable hybrid electric vehicles; they cannot be charged from an external source.
VPC/VHPC: Fuel cell vehicles / hybrid fuel cell vehicles.
VMCI: Pure internal combustion engine vehicle; this also includes hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Lifespan requirements:
Manufacturers are required to maintain emissions levels for a longer period throughout the vehicle’s lifespan, extending from 5 years or 100,000 kilometers to 10 years or 200,000 kilometers with Euro 7.
Battery durability requirements:
Batteries must maintain 80% of their capacity for up to 5 years or 100,000 kilometers and 72% of their capacity for up to 8 years or 160,000 kilometers.
Establishment of the new Vehicle Environmental Passport (VEP):
All new vehicles must have a digital environmental passport to provide vehicle users with information. The VEP will collect data on the vehicle’s environmental performance at the time of registration, including emissions limits, CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, electricity consumption, electric range, power output of the combustion or electric motor, battery life, and other data.
How does this affect the aftermarket?
Currently, Euro 7 only affects brake pads and discs used in the assembly line. The application of the regulation to independent aftermarket manufacturers is still to be decided, but all indications suggest that the total vehicle fleet will be divided into categories (criteria yet to be defined).
ICER BRAKES is part of a working group of the FEMFM (Federation of European Manufacturers of Friction Materials), which is working on defining the categories that will affect the aftermarket.
ICER BRAKES is taking numerous measures, both in monitoring and studying the Euro 7 standard, and in developing multiple products to help meet it:
- Membership in the emissions specialist committee of the European Federation of Friction Material Manufacturers (FEMFM)
- Current participation in several European projects (NEEVE & Eureka) to develop solutions that help meet the standard.
- Disc with plasma spraying treatment + NAO material
- Disc with laser cladding treatment + NAO material
- Disc with NFC nitrocarburizing treatment + NAO material
- Working in direct collaboration with various disc treatment companies to develop a material compatible with their different emission reduction solutions:
- Laser cladding treatments of the following types:
- Monolayer
- Double layer
- PVD treatments
- LTCP (Long-term corrosion protection) treatment
- Laser cladding treatments of the following types:
- Development of a proprietary PM10 particle measurement system on their test bench, which, together with the already implemented WLTP test, will allow for the development of materials that comply with Euro 7 regulations.
- External execution of several WLTP tests, with the dual objective of:
- First, understanding the current status of their friction materials with respect to PM10 particle emissions
- Developing the solutions described above
At ICER BRAKES, we stay up-to-date with the most demanding regulations, such as Euro 7, and remain committed to innovation and the development of sustainable solutions. Our goal is to anticipate and be prepared for future regulations, always guaranteeing products that meet the highest environmental standards.