Millions of diesel vehicles may be banned from traffic in Europe!

German Transport Minister Volker Wissing made a warning that worried the European automotive industry. According to Wissing, a new interpretation of EU emissions rules could lead to the banning of more than 8 million diesel vehicles from the road in Germany alone and tens of millions of diesel vehicles throughout Europe. Here are the details…

Euro 5 and 6 diesel vehicles are in danger in Germany and Europe: What do the new emission rules bring?

At the center of this concern is an ongoing case at the European Court of Justice. Wissing asked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a clear statement that emissions limits should apply in all driving conditions, not just in standard test conditions.

The Minister noted that the Commission maintains that these restrictions apply in every driving situation. This could mean that existing diesel vehicles, particularly Euro 5 and potentially Euro 6 vehicles, will not be able to meet the new standards.

European Commission Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton tried to calm concerns, stating that the Commission does not plan to change or retroactively apply emissions rules. Breton also citizens who have invested in electric vehicles He also emphasized that they did not intend to punish him.

Current homologation tests are based on standard procedures such as the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and more recently Real-Driving Emissions (RDE) tests. RDE tests use portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) to measure emissions in real driving conditions. Wissing argues that the Commission’s interpretation could require emissions limits to be applied even in extreme conditions (for example, driving uphill with a full load), which is technically impossible for existing vehicles.

In Germany, 4.3 million Euro 5 diesel and 3.9 million Euro 6 diesel vehicles may be affected by these new regulations. It is stated that in the entire EU, more than 50 million Euro 5 and 6 diesel vehicles may be exposed to this situation. This accounts for almost half of the total number of diesel vehicles at 105 million.

The European automotive market is already changing rapidly. In 2021, 42 percent of the 250 million passenger vehicles in Europe were diesel. However, new records show that the share of diesel vehicles is gradually decreasing. As of June 2024, only 12.7 percent of new vehicle sales were diesel, compared to 14.4 percent for electric vehicles and 35.6 percent for hybrid vehicles.

This could have significant consequences for the automotive industry, consumers and the environment. It is a matter of curiosity how the EU will balance its emissions reduction requirements with its existing vehicle park. What are you thinking? You can write your opinions in the comments section below.