Dear Reader,

The new magazine year is beginning in the same way as the old one ended: with considerable uncertainty. We still have no roadmap and no guidelines for the introduction of synthetic fuels for use in road transport. It is at least clear now that the greenhouse gas emissions from burning green hydrogen will in the future be rated as climate-neutral, but there are no corresponding regulations for other synthetic fuels and biofuels. All of this is linked to the discussions on the Euro 7 emissions standard. There is no agreement on the standard within the EU and some member states are opposed to its introduction. The maximum targets have already been reduced and the new targets seem likely to be watered down even further until we reach the point where we will only have the current Euro 6e standards with a few new factors and requirements added.

The extent of the impact of this decision is just as difficult to assess as the ultimate implementation. However, one thing is clear. If Euro 7 is not introduced at all or only in a highly watered-down form, we will miss the opportunity to make the internal combustion engine future-proof, because ultimately the subject of pollutant emissions and the discussion about them will be off the agenda, providing that the new standard is rigorously implemented. What will remain is CO2 and we have solutions for reducing it. The next discussion will be about life cycle emissions. This will finally bring us back to a more objective approach and perhaps even to technology neutrality.

Without a stringent European standard, all the other standards that have previously been based on the emissions regulations here will not be tightened, including the China 7 standard and the Indian Bharat Stage VII standard. A development that will bring major benefits for car manufacturers is likely to cause massive problems for automotive industry suppliers, who have already completed the preparations for the introduction of the most stringent regulations. Millions of euros spent on advance development would then have to be written off and no profits would be made from exhaust technologies. In addition, much of the investment in European companies comes from Asia where investors have deliberately chosen to put their money into Europe in order to be at the cutting edge of technology. This would call into question further funding from these sources, but then we are already living with constant uncertainty.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue of MTZ.

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Marc Ziegler

Deputy Editor in Chief