The future of emissions testing in commercial vehicle workshops

By Pavan Jheeta
Smoke Meter being used on a recovery truck

With less than a year to go before the Euro 7 standards arrive, workshops and fleet operators are already getting prepared to update their in-house emissions testing.

Here’s what you can expect from the road ahead:

 

New emission limits

With the new Euro 7 standards in 2025, we’re going to see tighter limits on the acceptable emissions from commercial vehicles out on the road.

And that should come as no surprise:

With each new version of the Euro standards, we’ve seen stricter limits on what’s allowed — all with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of fleets and other vehicles.

But what might come as a surprise is the distinction between the types of commercial vehicles:

The latest reports on the EU agreement show that tailpipe emission limits for light-duty vehicles could remain the same as the previous Euro 6 limits.

But for heavy-duty vehicles, we could be looking at new limits that are:

  • 38% lower for non-methane organic gases (NMOG)
  • 56% lower for nitrogen oxides (NOx)
  • 20% lower for particulate matter (PM)
  • And 62% lower for carbon monoxide (CO).

These are significant reductions in every category of emission. And if these expected figures become final next year with the arrival of Euro 7, it’s going to mean a whole new set of targets for emissions testing in commercial workshops.

 

New types of emissions

As well as tighter controls on the levels of emissions allowed, we can also expect entirely new emissions to look out for — which means new tests to measure them.

With the new Euro 7 standards, the EU is introducing limits on the emissions from brakes and tyres — not just tailpipes.

They’re looking to reduce microplastic pollution from the abrasion of tyres — as well as particulate emissions from the abrasion of brake pads and discs.

In particular, those brake particle limits could be:

  • 7 mg/km for smaller goods vehicles (N1 class I & II) with combustion engines
  • 11 mg/km for larger goods vehicles (N1 class III) with combustion engines
  • 3 mg/km for smaller EV goods vehicles
  • 5 mg/km for larger EV goods vehicles.

These limits are currently set to be in effect until the end of 2029, with new limits to be decided for later years.

But whatever the final limits might be, the introduction of a new set of measures means that emissions testing in workshops is already set to change.

 

New testing equipment

With new emissions around brakes and tyres, we could be looking at a whole new type of testing equipment in commercial workshops.

That all depends on how vehicle manufacturers react to the new legislation — and the new tech they start adding to vehicles to prevent or mitigate those emissions.

But as well as these new types of emissions, we could start to see changes in the more traditional testing equipment we already use.

New opportunities for workshops and fleets

With so much change on the horizon for emissions testing, it can start to feel like a lot of extra red tape.

But these new obligations come with opportunities for workshops and fleets — and they could even help your business save money.

With a fleet of Euro 7-compliant vehicles out on the road, you’ll be able to:

  • Cut down on your fuel costs — with engines that are more efficient
  • Avoid the charges and penalties of Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ)
  • Travel and park freely without fines through restricted areas across Europe — such as the ZCR and ZPA areas of France
  • And save money on your taxes — with lower CO2 emissions leading to lower vehicle tax bands.

 

Getting ready for Euro 7?

A new set of rules means plenty of preparation. And with less than a year to go before Euro 7 arrives, vehicle-based businesses have got plenty to deal with.

So if you’re looking to upgrade your testing equipment (and you’re worried about futureproofing your business), we’re here to help:

We’ve been supplying the latest tech to workshops and fleets for over 40 years — helping countless businesses to navigate changes in the industry and keep their fleets and equipment up to date and compliant.

You can see our full range of testing equipment in our online shop — or start a chat with a workshop expert to see exactly how we can help.