Euro 6 Emission Trucks
The European or Euro standard is a set of strict regulations set by the European Union to reduce the emissions from all vehicles including trucks. The Euro 1 standard was introduced in 1992, and the Euro 6 was introduced in 2014. Each new standard brings in stricter limits on vehicle emissions, the two main limits are on Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) and Particulate matter (PM or Soot). Euro 6 is the latest standard, and this significantly reduces NOx emissions by 77% and PM by 66% when comparing to a Euro 5 truck.
Currently TR has over 300 Euro 6 heavy commercial vehicles in our fleet with the transition from Euro 3 and Euro 4 happening at an ever-increasing pace.
Comparing the PM and NOx from Euro lll to Euro Vl
Over the years, vehicle emission standards have helped reduce harmful pollutants, this is especially the case when comparing Euro III to Euro VI. Early standards like Euro III, introduced in 2000, allowed much higher levels of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) than we see today. By the time Euro VI arrived in 2014, these limits had become far stricter. This change reflects not just the push for cleaner air but also advancements in engine and emissions technology.
It is important to note that if you were to burn exactly 1 Liter of diesel fuel in a Euro V truck engine and then in a Euro VI truck engine under the same conditions, it’s likely that the difference in CO2 emissions would be relatively small. The primary reason for this is that the difference between Euro V and Euro VI emissions standards primarily relates to sulphur content and certain additives, which may have minor effects on combustion efficiency and emissions. However, the difference you might see between Euro III & Euro VI is increased efficiency, for example a modern Euro VI engine will likely be more efficient and burn less diesel per km, this in turn would lead towards a reduction in CO2 through less fuel consumed.
It’s important to note that the major reasons for implementing different diesel emission standards like Euro III and Euro VI is related to reducing other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM), which have more immediate and direct impacts on air quality and public health. CO2 emissions, while important in terms of climate change, are more influenced by the overall energy content of the fuel and the efficiency of the engine in converting that energy into useful work.
The graphs on this page illustrate the differences between emissions when comparing Euro Standards. The one above shows the allowable amounts of NOx and PM to meet each Euro standard, as you can see Euro VI is very stringent and the amount of PM and NOx allowed is very small.
NOx (nitrogen oxides – Contributes to smog and the formation of Ozone which is a potent greenhouse gas)
PM (particulate matter – Tiny solid airborne particles which are the result of the combustion process, these are harmful health and contribute to air pollution)
The below graphs show the difference in estimated lifetime emissions when comparing Euro III and Euro VI
Note: There is no difference in PM between EIV and EV, which is why they are the same in the graph above.
Disclaimer
The “typical” truck we have used here as an example:
- 40-ton gross weight
- Fuel consumption of 2 km/L (50 L per 100 km)
- Average speed of 70 km/h
- 560 hp
- Life time of 850,000 km
- This does not account for different driving styles, variations in fuel consumption (e.g., due to idling), or other influencing factors.