The European Union is introducing EURO 7 standards, while in Serbia the import of vehicles with EURO 3 standard is still permitted.So, what is EURO 7?
On April 24, 2024, the Council of Ministers of the European Union and the European Parliament definitively adopted the earlier proposal of the European Commission to introduce new emission standards (EURO 7) for exhaust gases, emissions of harmful substances emitted by other vehicle components (tires, brake pads, etc.), as well as standards related to the lifespan (durability) of batteries for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. All existing models of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (categories M1 and N1) will be required to comply with these standards from November 2026, and all new models from November 2027.
For buses, heavy-duty vehicles, and trailers (categories M2, M3, N2, N3, O3, O4), the rules will come into force from May 2028 for existing models and from May 2029 for new models.
The document has been published in the Official Journal of the EU, and you can download it
HERE.
Regarding exhaust gas emissions for passenger cars (M1) and light commercial vehicles (N1), the objections of the majority of European manufacturers and the governments of six EU countries have been taken into account. Therefore, the emission limits from the currently applicable EURO 6 standard have been retained:
CO – 1000 mg/km (petrol); 500 mg/km (diesel)
THC – 100 mg/km (petrol)
NMHC – 68 mg/km (petrol)
NOx – 60 mg/km (petrol); 80 mg/km (diesel)
PM – 4.5 mg/km (petrol, diesel)
However, for buses and heavy-duty vehicles (M2, M3, N2, N3), stricter rules have been imposed, setting even lower emission limits compared to the currently applicable EURO 6 standard.
As for battery lifespan, for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (100% electric and plug-in hybrids), it is stipulated that:
- In the first 5 years of age or after covering 100,000 km, the battery must have a lifespan of min. 82% of its total lifespan;
- Between 5 and 8 years of age or after covering 100,000 km – 160,000 km, the battery must have a lifespan of min. 72% of its total lifespan.
Additionally, for any newly manufactured vehicle of the aforementioned categories to receive type approval for use, i.e., to be registered and used within the European Union, manufacturers will have to meet strict criteria for continuous monitoring, including:
- Installing an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) device in the vehicle to detect malfunctions in the exhaust gas systems regarding the emission of harmful gases above the allowed limits;
- Installing an OBFCM (On-Board Fuel Consumption Monitoring) device in the vehicle to measure actual fuel consumption (or electricity consumption in electric vehicles) to determine their energy efficiency level;
- Installing a SOH (State of Health) device in the vehicle to monitor the battery condition in terms of durability or lifespan;
- Installing a warning system in the vehicle to alert the driver if exhaust gas emissions exceed the allowed limits;
- Installing a warning system in the vehicle to alert the driver of low reagent levels;
- Providing diagnostic devices for testing during regular vehicle technical inspections.
For the first time, pollution will be limited not only from the vehicle's exhaust system but also from reducing the emission of harmful particles, micro-particles generated by the use of tires and brakes. This will also apply to electric cars.
Although the arguments put forward by the automotive industry, which indicated that it would be a huge expense, were only partially considered, fundamentally, European regulators have further tightened the criteria when viewed in its entirety. Only one sentence uttered during the final March debate in the European Council put an end to any further discussion:
"Due to the consequences of air pollution caused by emissions of harmful gases from vehicles in the EU annually, 75,000 people die." (A total of 400,000 EU residents die annually from air pollution).
That's the situation in the European Union.
And what about here, in Serbia?
In Serbia, in the first four months of 2024, the sale of new vehicles increased by more than 30% compared to the same period last year, which is certainly encouraging. A total of 9,713 passenger cars were sold, which is 2,265 more than in the same period last year when 7,448 cars were sold. The sale of light commercial vehicles in the period January-April 2024 reached 2,131. This is 575 more than in the first four months of 2023 when 1,556 vehicles were sold. A growth of a respectable 36.9%.
However...
The data that is more than disheartening is that in Serbia, in the first four months of this year, a total of 43,290 used imported vehicles were sold, with more than 65% of this number being vehicles older than 15 years. While we notice a positive trend in the increase in the number of new electric, hybrid, and gasoline-powered vehicles, among used imported vehicles from the EU, older generation diesel vehicles (EURO 3, 4, 5) are the most common. The data is discouraging because the sale of such diesel vehicles accounts for 63% of all imported used vehicles.
To remind you, vehicles with "EURO 3" standards were produced from 2000 to 2005, and with "EURO 4" from 2005 to 2009. This means that it is still possible to import vehicles into Serbia that are more than 24 years old, making Serbia the last haven for European polluters.
Because the Government of Montenegro has decided to ban the import of vehicles older than 15 years from July 1 this year. This means that vehicles with lower eco-standards than "EURO 5" will not be able to be imported.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also banned the import of used vehicles with "EURO 4" engine standards from June 1, 2019.
According to a study by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution, Serbia is the first in Europe and ninth in the world in terms of mortality due to various forms of pollution, primarily due to air pollution.
In Serbia, 12,000 residents die prematurely each year.
Source: European Commission, Government of Montenegro, Cube Team, Polovniautomobili, World Health OrganizationPhoto: Freepik
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