Tractor Units

European emission standard

The European emission standard is a European initiative to oblige car manufacturers to limit engine emissions. The emission class determines the emission category of a vehicle. The higher the figure, the cleaner the vehicle. The Euro 6 standard was launched in January 2014. 

Environmental zones municipalities

An increasing number of major European cities have established environmental zones where the most polluting diesel vehicles are not allowed to go. From 1 January 2022, only lorries with emission class 6 may enter the environmental zone. If a truck driver with a Euro 5 truck enters the environmental zone after 31 December 2021, he risks a fine.

EGR and SCR 

The Euro 6 standard is mainly achieved by systems such as EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction). Every modern truck with a diesel engine is currently equipped with one or both of these technologies. 

The EGR system is a technology in which part of the exhaust gases is re-circulated to the combustion chamber, thus reducing the remaining NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions. This system is integrated into the engine.

The most common is the SCR system, easily recognisable by the AdBlue tank. AdBlue is a water-based solution that is used to convert a large proportion of NOx emissions into nitrogen and water vapour.  

Check out the well-known brands on TrucksNL that comply with the Euro 6 standard: DAF, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Scania and Volvo.