EPTO Position Paper - Euro 7 standards

EPTO the European Passenger Transport Operators association represents the major operators of PSO and open access public transport services in Europe, by road and rail. EPTO considers that some of the proposals for the new Euro 7 emissions standards for road vehicles recently announced by the Commission may have a negative impact on the bus and coach sector.

EPTO considers that introducing a new Euro 7 standard for diesel engines in heavy vehicles beyond the current EURO VI will confer little benefit for bus and coach, as most operators and authorities are already well advanced with the introduction of, or plans for the introduction of electric and hydrogen buses in our cities and urban areas.  EPTO considers it that this new standard for diesel has the potential to divert vehicle manufacturers’ resources from their focus on delivering new and improved battery technology, that will reduce the capital cost and weight of battery vehicles, and improve their range allowing greater and more efficient utilisation of buses in urban areas and provide a solution for electric inter-urban and long-distance coaches.

EPTO understands the Commission’s environmental concern about the short term as we move to decarbonised bus and coach fleets, but points out that there remains a great deal that can be done with existing fleets to reduce their emissions. Retrofit solutions for Euro III, IV and V standard diesel vehicles to bring them up to Euro VI emissions standards are already available as “off the shelf” conversions for many vehicle types. Developing a new set of diesel engine solutions to retrofit to Euro 7 standards would be very expensive and yield little extra benefit.

The Commission has recently (14 February 2023) stated that it is minded to bring forward, from 2035 to 2030, the ending of sales of new diesel buses for urban use. This makes the introduction of a Euro 7 diesel standard for new buses and coaches from 1 July 2027 of little practical benefit. EPTO understands that many manufacturers of such vehicles do not propose to supply diesel engine buses beyond such a date in any event, thereby negating the impact of Euro 7 on urban buses. Notwithstanding, the perpetuation of such a new diesel standard remains unwelcome to EPTO, as it has the potential to shift manufacturer focus away from battery technology improvements which are essential if the longer distance bus and coach services are to be decarbonised

EPTO considers that other parts of the Commission’s proposals are steps in the right direction to reduce carbon production and atmospheric pollution, particularly the Euro 7 measures proposed for private cars. This is a different argument to that for buses and coaches, as EPTO believes that decarbonisation alone of the private car fleet will do little for environmental improvement, economic prosperity or health and social welfare, as it will not resolve the problems of congestion, inefficient use of roadspace and consequent inefficiency of transport operations, public health, isolation and social inequality of a transport system focussed and reliant on the private car. Any measures which both reduce the financial attractiveness of private car use and reduce the impact of such vehicles on the environment are supported by EPTO.

In summary, EPTO believes that creating a new Euro 7 diesel standard for buses and coaches is the wrong focus. Taking the vehicle manufacturers’ focus away from improving the range, and lowering the weight and cost of battery powered buses and coaches will only lead to further delays in moving to greener and more sustainable public transport services.