According to Transport Minister Martin Kupka, the milder proposal for the Euro 7 emission standard, which was passed by the European Parliament on Thursday, is good news for the European automotive industry. According to Kupka, the accepted position is due to MEP Alexander Vondra (ODS).
The Ministry of Transport informed about the opinion of the Minister of Transport Kupka in a press release. The result of the vote was also welcomed by the Association of the Automotive Industry (SAP), but according to him, there are still concerns about the feasibility and impact of some requirements.
The new regulation updates limits for exhaust gas emissions such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and ammonia, and introduces new measures to reduce emissions from tires and brakes and to increase battery life. The report was supported by 329 MEPs, 230 were against and 41 abstained.
According to the proposal, which was approved on September 25 by the ministers of the EU member states responsible for competitiveness, car manufacturers should reduce the emissions of new vehicles less than the original plan, and at the same time they should have a longer time to prepare the changes. In particular, the emission limits for passenger and commercial vehicles should remain at the level contained in the Euro 6 emission standard in force today. As for trucks, these limits should be somewhat stricter.
“It is also good news for the European automotive industry, which can perceive it as support in its quest for a realistic transformation of individual transport. The Czech Republic negotiated a milder form of the norm and, in cooperation with other states, promoted the preservation of the availability of individual mobility for all, especially through the availability of small and smaller vehicles.” said Kupka.
The Association of the Automotive Industry also considers the adopted text to be a significant improvement of the original proposal of the European Commission. “One of the examples of the realization of requirements is, for example, the question of entry into force. Establishing the counting period for entry into force until the adoption of secondary legislation is key to ensuring the necessary time for manufacturers and test centers to respond to new regulatory requirements.” said SAP CEO Zdeněk Petzl. According to the association, however, there are still concerns about, for example, an increase in requirements for new on-board diagnostics of vehicles or further tightening of emissions from abrasion from brakes and tires.
The coming weeks will show what the final version of the regulation will be. The meetings of the representatives of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU will now follow. Vondra has previously stated that he hopes to reach a final agreement by the end of this year.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the Czech Republic’s position on fundamental issues remains unchanged even for the upcoming negotiations. The most important requirement continues to be the extension of the entry into force dates and their linking to implementing acts. The Czech Republic will also strive for a clearer specification and discussion of other parts of the proposal, especially when it comes to the emission measurement system directly on board the vehicle, or the so-called boundary conditions of measurement.
In the package known as Fit for 55, with which the EU wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 values, the European Union approved this spring the end of sales of cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. However, Germany agreed with European Commission on the fact that even after this year it will be possible to continue to use combustion engines powered exclusively by synthetic fuels.
Tags: milder Euro standard cars Good news industry Minister Kupka
