Trucks are an integral part of the transportation and logistics industry. However, its great importance for processes is offset by its environmentally harmful emissions. The exhaust emission standards and pollutant classes limit these emissions – and have an impact on taxes, tolls and the environmental badge for trucks. It is therefore important to know which regulations currently apply and which changes are planned.
POLLUTANT CLASSES AND POLLUTANT GROUPS – NOT THE SAME THING!
The two classifications “pollutant classes” and “pollutant groups” must not be confused with each other. The pollutant classes categorize vehicles according to the amount of exhaust emissions they produce. There are currently six classes, the categorizations of which have different consequences.
The pollutant groups, on the other hand, are the basis for better protecting cities from pollution caused by emissions through designated environmental zones. This is achieved by awarding certain stickers based on the classification into the respective pollutant group.
A distinction is currently made between:
- green sticker
- yellow badge
- red badge
- no badge
The sticker classification has two main meanings for logistics companies. Firstly, vehicles without a functioning catalytic converter do not receive an environmental badge. Secondly, vehicles that are powered by diesel and have been assigned pollutant class 2 are not allowed to enter environmental zones due to the red sticker issued.
THE GET TO KNOW THE POLLUTANT CLASSES
First, a brief digression on why the use of pollutant classes is so important. On the one hand, emissions that are emitted are harmful to health. On the other hand, they pollute the environment and thus accelerate climate change, which must be stopped by the pollutant classes and their conditions.
Such emissions are primarily:
- Carbon monoxide (chemical formula: CO)
- Hydrocarbon (chemical formula: CH)
- Nitrogen oxide (chemical formula: NO)
- Non-methane hydrocarbons (chemical formula: NMHC)
In addition, there is particulate matter and other particles (in particular, of course, the emission of soot), the emission of which has been identified as hazardous by the relevant scientists and documented with various limit values.
As climate change is a global problem and therefore requires an international solution, a transnational form of pollutant classes is used. The currently valid pollutant classes, which also apply to the Federal Republic of Germany, are firmly defined in accordance with the EU emissions standard.
The following list shows the currently valid pollutant classes and their start date:
- Emission class Euro 1 – in force since 1992
- Emission class Euro 2 – valid since 1996
- Emission class Euro 3 – valid since 2000
- Emission class Euro 4 – in force since 1996
- Emission class Euro 5 – valid since 2005
- Emission class Euro 6 – valid since 2009 or 2011
- Emission class Euro 6 – valid since 2014 or 2017
Good to know: The classification of these emission classes applies exclusively to vehicles that are generally considered to have low emissions. Pollutant class 1 includes those vehicles that produce the highest emissions, while those that produce low emissions are assigned to pollutant class 6.
Vehicles that are not considered low-emission are neither allowed to enter the areas declared as low emission zones nor may they generally be used when there is an ozone alert.
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT EMISSION LIMITS AND EMISSION CLASSES FOR TRUCKS?
In order to make the classification and measures relating to the reduction of emissions more targeted, additional types of pollutant classes have been introduced that specifically affect trucks over 3.5 tons and buses. The 3.5 tons of trucks refer to the permissible total weight.
These special types of pollutant classes are represented by the Roman numerals I to VI.
These are the respective classes and the date of their initial validity:
- Emission class EURO I: 1992
- Emission class EURO II: 1995
- Emission class EURO III: 2001
- Emission class EURO IV: 2005
- EURO V emission class: 2008
- EURO VI emission class: 2012
Here too, the environmental friendliness of pollutant class VI is the best – trucks and buses in pollutant class I, on the other hand, have the least favorable values.
The current regulation is that only those trucks whose exhaust emission values allow them to be classified in the most favorable category, i.e. pollutant class VI, may be newly registered. It cannot be ruled out that a further pollutant class, number VII, will be introduced.
HOW CAN THE EMISSION CLASS OF A TRUCK BE DETERMINED?
You don’t have to be a technician or inspector to correctly determine the emissions class of a truck. The vehicle registration certificate or the registration certificate part I, both of which must always be carried with you, provide the relevant information in this context.
The “Key number to 1” field of the vehicle registration certificate or field 14.1 of the registration certificate part I contains the respective number from which the relevant emission class can be read. The last two digits of the key number or a combination of two digits and two letters are decisive.
The following list allows the key number and pollutant classes of trucks to be assigned to each other:
- Truck emission class EURO 0: key numbers 00, 05, 06, 07, 08, 10, 15, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 88
- Truck emission class EURO I: key numbers 01, 02, 03, 04, 09, 11, 12, 13 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 77
- Truck emission class EURO II: key numbers 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35, 40, 41, 49, 71
- Truck emission class EURO III: key numbers 30, 31, 36, 37, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 50, 60, 61
- Truck emission class EURO IV: key numbers 32, 33, 38, 39, 43, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70
- Truck emission class EURO V: key numbers 35AO to 35MO
- Truck emission class VI: key numbers 36NO to 36YO, 36BA to 36BI, 36ZA to 36ZL and 36AA to 36AL
Of course, truck owners must not simply rely on the information provided by the key numbers in the vehicle registration certificate or the registration certificate part I. The actual exhaust emission values are checked by the statutory exhaust emission tests.
TRUCK EMISSION CLASS AND TAX
All vehicles are taxed by the Federal Motor Transport Authority. The amount of vehicle tax depends on various factors. One of these factors is the respective emissions class. This is because the legislator naturally rewards efforts to reduce emissions and thus protect health and the environment.
Tip: It can therefore be well worthwhile to achieve a better emissions class by retrofitting. This is good for both the environment and your wallet.
TRUCK EMISSION CLASS AND TRUCK TOLL
Tolls and truck emission classes are also closely linked. Those with a good emissions class also pay less toll. Of course, it is also in the interest of the legislator and the relevant authorities to ensure that commercial truck traffic is as low-emission as possible.
Important: The toll is also calculated according to the respective axles of the truck.
Pollutant class and toll are assigned to each other as follows:
- Truck emission class EURO 0 and EURO I = toll category A
Costs: 8.1 cents/km (2 axles) or 11.7 cents/km (4 axles)
- Truck emission class EURO II = toll category B
Costs: 10.2 cents/km (2 axles) or 13.8 cents/km (4 axles)
- Truck emission class EURO III and EURO 3 with retrofitting = toll category C
Costs: 11.3 cents/km (2 axles) or 14.9 cents/km (4 axles)
- Truck emission class EURO IV and EURO III with retrofitting = toll category D
Costs: 14.1 cents/km (2 axles) or 18.0 cents/km (4 axles)
- Truck emission class EURO V = toll category E
Costs: 14.1 cents/km (2 axles) or 19.0 cents/km (4 axles)
- Truck emission class EURO VI = toll category F
Costs: 16.4 cents/km (2 axles) or 20.0 cents/km (4 axles)
Low emissions are therefore also advisable in order to save on tolls.
TRUCK DAMAGE CLASS AND ENVIRONMENTAL BADGE
The fact that, as already described, damage classes and environmental badges are linked is of great strategic importance for the relevant companies.
This is because trucks have the advantage over rail of being able to deliver goods to a precise location. If this is restricted by poor emission values and the resulting bans in environmental zones, companies are put at an unpleasant competitive disadvantage.
Regardless of whether they are B2B or B2C customers, it is difficult to communicate that deliveries are not possible because a logistics provider’s vehicles are not allowed to enter certain zones.
The purchase of low-emission vehicles for the vehicle fleet or the corresponding retrofitting of the fleet are therefore both environmentally friendly measures and genuine investments in the competitiveness of logistics companies.
PREVIOUS EMISSION STANDARDS
Like other countries, the Federal Republic of Germany used to have its own emissions standards. They are known as D standards. However, since the introduction of mandatory standards by the EU, the D standards no longer have any significance.
The EU standards have been constantly amended. Currently, the EURO 6 emissions standard introduced in 2015 applies, which has been adapted since September 2017 and requires stricter criteria and finer measurement methods as the EURO 6c/6d standard.
THE DIESEL DRIVING BAN UNDER THE MAGNIFYING GLASS
Diesel-powered vehicles are considered to be particularly harmful to the environment and to health. The emission of soot particles in particular makes them a cause for concern. Cities in particular are fuelling the discussions surrounding the diesel ban because they want to limit and minimize air pollution.
There are cities that exclude trucks above EURO 6 from environmental zones. Entrepreneurs who want to make up for this disadvantage have the option of retrofitting their fleet.
Attractive state subsidies are available if certain conditions are met. Companies should definitely take this into account. After all, such bans do not exclude the commercial sector.
The introduction of a blue sticker is being discussed, among other things. Trucks with particularly low emissions that receive this sticker can then drive in the respective areas despite the ban. It is not advisable to simply circumvent the ban. It pollutes the environment and is punished drastically by the provisions of the catalog of fines.
WHAT IS THE PLANNED EURO 7 EMISSIONS STANDARD ALL ABOUT?
After the emissions reform is before the emissions reform. This is one way of describing the consistent further development of emissions standards based on new scientific findings and innovative technologies.
Possible provisions for a new EURO 7 standard are currently being discussed. The EU Commission is targeting 2027 as a possible date for the introduction of the new truck standards.
The new standard is characterized by these features , among others:
- Greater consideration of particulate matter, for example from tire abrasion
- Reduction of nitrogen emissions from trucks by 50 percent
- Emissions-related onboard monitoring system (OBM)
- Stricter framework conditions with regard to driving
Entrepreneurs in the logistics sector fear that the new standard will result in four-figure costs per truck. Not everyone will be able to afford this investment.
EU EMISSION STANDARDS THE PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION
The emissions standards and new introductions have to manage a balancing act between environmental protection and costs, for example of possible retrofitting. Manufacturers have also expressed doubts as to whether the necessary technology can be provided comprehensively to meet every need quickly.
It is probably crucial that new regulations regarding the planned EU EURO 7 emissions standard are discussed by all those involved at the round table in order to achieve the best possible consensus.
Picture credits:
Image 1: stock.adobe.com © Mike Mareen
Image 2: stock.adobe.com © lesterman
Image 3: stock.adobe.com © TPhotography
Image 4: stock.adobe.com © philipk76
