European Commission proposes Euro 5 emission standards
Mon 23 January 2006
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The European Commission’s formal proposals for the next generation of EU vehicle emission standards, Euro V, have been met with criticism from both environmental groups and the motor industry.
The proposals would reduce fine particle emissions from vans by up to 90%. For diesel cars the limit for fine particles (PM10) will be 5mg/km, compared with 25 mg/km under Euro 4. To meet the standard, which are expected to come into force by 2008, will have to be fitted with particle filters.
For petrol cars, hydrocarbon emissions will be restricted to 75 mg/km, down from 100mg/km. Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions will be limited to 60mg/km, down from 80 mg/km.
The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) and the European Environment Bureau are concerned about the proposed NOx limits for diesel cars. Under the new rules, the limit is set at 200mg/km, a figure the environmental groups say compare unfavourably with the United States’ 87mg/km, which will come into force in 2007.
PSA Peugeot – Citroen has warned that proposed European rules would add to the cost of diesel to the point of making it uneconomical for buyers. PSA claim Euro IV rules, which came into affect in 2005, will add hundreds of thousands of pounds to the cost of building diesel-powered vehicles. The next set of regulations, Euro V, which come into force in 2009/2010, will deter customers further they claim.
In the last decade sales of diesel cars have greatly increased, in part thanks to tax breaks on the fuel and modern engines that eliminated the black smoke and poor performance of older models. Records indicate diesel is set to power more than half of all new cars sold in Western Europe in 2005.
Meanwhile in the US, DaimlerChrysler is to launch what it claims to be the world’s cleanest diesel - the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec. The car will be available in the autumn and represents the start of a group-wide initiative to promote diesel cars throughout the States. There are currently only about 4m diesel cars in the US compared with a new car market of 15m annually. The introduction of the technology has been made possible by the supply of low-sulphur diesel (with a sulphur content of less than 15 parts per million) which is expected to become available in the US by the autumn.
Related Links
T&E Press Release
Mercedes Benz Bluetec Website
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