New Year’s resolution: less pollution from buses and trucks

Brussels, 4-1-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Thanks to new European legislation (called the Euro VI norm), effective from 31 December 2012, nitrogen oxides and dust emitted from new types of trucks and buses will be lowered. It means a reduction of 80% in emissions of nitrogen oxides and 66% in particulate matters. In addition to the health and environment, the new legislation will also have a positive impact on industry: the legislation introduces world-wide harmonised test procedures and standards which should help boost European automotive industry exports. In addition, EU automotive legislation is now simpler and becomes effective more quickly – directly applicable regulations have replaced directives, thus eliminating the time required for their transposition into 27 different national legislations.

European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said: “Today’s emission reduction will help clean up the air we breathe and improve the competitiveness of Europe’s automobile industry. As agreed in our recently adopted Cars Action plan we are creating a win-win situation: we will have cleaner trucks and buses, which will be trendsetters and exportable worldwide.”

Euro VI – emissions from heavy duty vehicles

Background

The new European law lays down common EU rules for pollutant emissions from heavy motor vehicles and their engines. It was developed in line with the principles of Better Regulation and following recommendations from the High Level Group for Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st century (CARS 21) and feedback from a public consultation.

Benefits of the new norms include:

• a reduction of 80% in nitrogen oxides and 66% in particulate matter emissions, as compared to 2008 levels under the previous Euro V norms.
• the introduction of global harmonised test procedures and standards with USA equivalent emission limit values
• a positive cost benefit ratio, as proven by the impact assessment.