Emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI): certification rules

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 on type approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy-duty vehicles

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It defines the rules for type approval* of motor vehicles, engines and replacement parts for heavy-duty vehicles (lorries, buses and coaches) with respect to their emission performance. It also sets out rules on:
- in-service conformity of vehicles and engines;
- durability of pollution-control devices;
- on-board diagnostic systems;
- measurement of fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
It repeals Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC with effect from 31 December 2013.
It should be noted that since 1 September 2020, rules relating to access to vehicle repair and maintenance information – originally set out in the regulation – are to be found in Chapter XIV of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 (see summary).

KEY POINTS

Scope

This regulation applies to motor vehicles of categories M₁, M₂, N₁ and N₂ with a reference mass exceeding 2,610 kg, and to all motor vehicles of categories M₃ and N₃, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2018/858.

Manufacturer obligations

Manufacturers must:

be able to demonstrate that all new vehicles, engines or spare parts sold, registered or put into service in the European Union (EU) have been type approved in accordance with this regulation;
take technical measures to guarantee effective limitation of exhaust emissions throughout the normal life of the vehicles under normal conditions of use.

Requirements and tests

Manufacturers must equip their vehicles or engines with components that comply with the emission limits laid down in Annex I to this regulation, under conditions specified by the European Commission in this regulation and in the implementing acts.

Timetable

National authorities must not grant EU or national type approval for vehicles that do not comply with this regulation from 31 December 2012, and must prohibit the registration of new vehicles that do not comply with this regulation from 31 December 2013.

Financial incentives

EU Member States could grant financial incentives for the purchase of motor vehicles produced in series that comply with this regulation until 31 December 2013. Retrofitting measures may also be considered either to adapt in-use motor vehicles or for scrapping.
The amount of the financial incentives must be equal to the additional cost of the technical measures introduced to ensure compliance of the vehicle with emission limits.

Implementing legislation

Implementing acts set out measures to implement Regulation (EC) No 595/2009.

Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 sets out the specific technical requirements for the approval of heavy-duty vehicles with regard to emissions and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information. The regulation has been amended several times and covers aspects such as:
- rules regarding multi-stage type approval, customer adaptations, small volume manufacturers and carry-over systems;
- a requirement to ensure all engine systems and vehicles are equipped with an on-board diagnostic system;
- conformity of production;
- in-service conformity;
- remedial measures in the event of non-compliance;
- requirements to limit off-cycle emissions;
- pollution-control devices;
- detailed requirements for type approval;
- rules for EU type approval of:
  - an engine system or engine family* as a separate technical unit with regard to emissions,
  - a vehicle with regard to emissions,
  - a type of replacement pollution-control device as a separate technical unit.
Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 (see summary) complements the legal rules established by Regulation (EU) No 582/2011. It lays down the rules for:
- certifying lorry components with an impact on CO₂ emissions and the fuel consumption of vehicles;
- issuing licences to perform simulations to determine CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption of new vehicles to be sold, registered or put into service in the EU;
- using simulation tools and declaring the CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption values that they determine.
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1362 contains rules relating to heavy-duty trailers’ performance with regard to their influence on the CO₂ emissions, fuel consumption, energy consumption and zero emission driving range of motor vehicles.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 31 December 2012. However, some of the amendments to Directive 2007/46/EC included in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 have only applied since 31 December 2013.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Reducing CO₂ emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Type approval. The procedure whereby an approval authority certifies that a type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit satisfies certain legal requirements.

Engine family. A manufacturer’s grouping of engine types that, through their design, have similar exhaust emission characteristics and respect the applicable emission limit values.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information and amending Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and Directive 2007/46/EC and repealing Directives 80/1269/EEC, 2005/55/EC and 2005/78/EC (OJ L 188, 18.7.2009, pp. 1–13).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1362 of 1 August 2022 implementing Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the performance of heavy-duty trailers with regard to their influence on the CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, energy consumption and zero emission driving range of motor vehicles and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/683 (OJ L 205, 5.8.2022, pp. 145–206).

Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 of 12 December 2017 implementing Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the determination of the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of heavy-duty vehicles and amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 (OJ L 349, 29.12.2017, pp. 1–247).

See consolidated version.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 of 1 June 2017 supplementing Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1230/2012 and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 (OJ L 175, 7.7.2017, pp. 1–643).

See consolidated version.

Commission Regulation (EU) No 136/2014 of 11 February 2014 amending Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Regulation (EC) No 692/2008 as regards emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and Commission Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 as regards emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) (OJ L 43, 13.2.2014, pp. 12–46).

Commission Regulation (EU) No 582/2011 of 25 May 2011 implementing and amending Regulation (EC) No 595/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and amending Annexes I and III to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 167, 25.6.2011, pp. 1–168).

See consolidated version.

last update 06.09.2022