Harsher emission rules come into force on UK roads - electric vehicle drivers will no longer be exempt

The new stricter emission standards cover cars, vans and heavy-duty vehicles and is issued by the European Commission.

The tighter emission rules look to limit the amount of air pollution caused by vehicles travelling up and down the nation.

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Under Euro 7 regulation, while it incorporates Euro 6 rules it introduces stricter requirements for solid particles.

For heavy-duty buses and lorries, the regulation imposes harsher limits for various pollutants, including some that have not been regulated until now, such as nitrous oxide.

Euro 7 introduces stricter limits for particle emissions produced when braking, with specific limits for electric cars.

The new rules also include stricter requirements for all vehicles in terms of both mileage and lifetime.

The current Euro 6 test conditions are used to limit entry of more polluting vehicles into Clean Air zones across the UK.

Despite leaving the EU, the nation still incorporates its emission standards and is expected to do so again when the new Euro 7 rules come into force.

The Commission detailed how the dates of application for the regulation will depend on the kind of vehicle.

Drivers will have 30 months for new types of cars and vans, and 42 months for new cars and vans until the regulation applies.

Buses, trucks and trailers, however, will have longer time at 48 months while new models will have 60 months grace period.

The emission rules form part of the UK’s plan to reach net zero by 2035.

Under its strategy, the Government hopes to have 80 per cent of new cars and 70 per cent of new vans sold be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100 per cent by 2035.

In order to meet these targets, the UK will need to have at least 20 per cent of new cars have zero emissions this year.

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After being signed by the European Council and Parliament it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

After 20 days from being signed and published it will come into force.