Legislation

There has been legislation on emission from motor vehicles in the European Union since 1988. These regulations have been subject to continuous supplements and new regulatories have replaced the previous along the way. In 1992 was the tier legislation put in place called 'Euro 1'. A legislation that in short set limits for how much of certain substances different vehicle types can emit and legislates on vehicle equipment to lower pollution.

Euro V

Reference mass (kg)

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Particulate mass (PM)

(mg/km)

(mg/km)

(mg/km)

Vehicle class

 

 

 

 

M

All

500

180

5,0

N1 – I

x ≤ 1305

500

180

5,0

N1 – II

1305 < x ≤ 1760

630

235

5,0

N1 – III

1760 < x

740

280

5,0

N2

 

740

280

5,0


Figure 1 - Euro 5 is in effect from September 1, 2009 and will be in effect until Euro 6 replaces it on September 1, 2014. There is a couple of years extra buffer included in each case for heavy duty goods vehicles. Euro 5 has significantly tighter limits compared to Euro 4 and there is i.e. a reduction on allowed particulate matter of 80 % (from 25 mg/km to 5 mg/km).

Euro VI

Reference mass (kg)

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Particulate mass (PM)

(mg/km)

(mg/km)

(mg/km)

Vehicle class

 

 

 

 

M

All

500

80

5,0

N1 – I

x ≤ 1305

500

80

5,0

N1 – II

1305 < x ≤ 1760

630

105 

5,0

N1 – III

1760 < x

740

125 

5,0

N2

 

740

125 

5,0


Figure 2 - In Euro 6 there is primarily tighter restrictions on nitrogen oxides for diesel vehicles.

Type approval concerning Euro 5 and Euro 6
Summary of Euro 5 and Euro 6.

Page updated  by   12.11.2009


Kent Kammer Hansen
Senior Researcher
Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry (ABF)
Dir tel+45 46775835


Frederik Berg Nygaard
Business Development Engineer
Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry (ABF)
Dir tel+45 46775666