Mercedes-Benz has this week launched its E320 BlueTec model for sale in America. The car is the first of a new-generation of diesels that meet strict new American emissions standards and would also meet proposed European emissions standards that the European Parliament has said shouldn’t come into force before 2015.
The European Parliament’s environment committee has voted to delay the Commission’s proposed Euro-5 pollution standards from cars, and to weaken some elements of the package.
T&E's submission to the European Commission Public Consultation on the Cars 21 High Level Group Final Report.
The campaign for post-Euro-5 emission targets to be set now has gathered momentum, following a call by Germany for Euro-6 nitrogen oxides standards.
The World Health Organisation has published a report on air pollution which suggests the emissions limits in the EU’s proposed Euro-5 standards are far too lax.
T&E's Aat Peterse writes in today's Financial Times:
Another reason there are so few diesel cars in the US is strict air pollution standards ("Carmakers display a cleaner side of diesel", January 31). But as your article pointed out, the technology now exists to make cleaner diesel engines and several European carmakers have been showing it off at the Detroit motor show. It is strange then that the latest emissions standards for new cars proposed by the European Commission (Euro 5) do not take these technical advances into account.
European car manufacturers will soon be selling dirtier diesel cars in their home market than they export to the United States if the European Commission’s proposed 'EURO 5' emissions standards are approved.
The Commission is set to propose a Euro-5 emissions standard which is as weak as the pre-proposal issued for public consultation in September. according to media reports.
The Commission has closed its consultation on the next round of emission limits for passenger cars, known as Euro-5, with T&E clashing with the European car makers’ association Acea.