Euro 6.2

The Euro 6.2 emissions standard officially came into force on 1 September 2017, aiming to make vehicles cleaner and greener – here’s a handy guide to how this affects vans.

What does Euro 6.2 mean?

The European Union’s “Euro” standards impose emissions thresholds that cars and light commercial vehicles must not exceed. Limits are lowered regularly, the latest are set by the Euro 6.2 standard.
Like the previous standards, Euro 6.2 sets emission thresholds for the following pollutant gases: NOx (nitrogen oxide), CO (carbon monoxide), fine particulate matter and unburned hydrocarbons. However, the standard does not set any limit on CO2 emissions.
The Euro 6.2 standard has been applicable since September 2017 for new vehicle types, and comes into force for all types in September 2018.

How do vans meet Euro 6.2?

Reducing NOx emissions means adding extra technology. Small vans are able to use a simple NOx trap, while most larger van and pickup makers are choosing to use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which injects a reductant called AdBlue into the exhaust stream to neutralise the nasty NOx.

What is AdBlue?

AdBlue is the most recognised name for diesel exhaust fluid. Added to a special extra tank in compatible vehicles in a process that’s as simple as topping up the windscreen washer jets, this fluid is used to break down NOx into less harmful nitrogen and water vapour.

Prices vary, but AdBlue costs around £8-£20 a litre (buy in bulk to make it cheaper) and can be purchased from service stations, truckstops, dealerships and motorfactors like Halfords.

Are EU6.2 vans more expensive to run?

This is difficult to estimate at this stage. Like-for-like against Euro 6 they are slightly more expensive to buy, as manufacturers pass on the cost of implementing the additional emission control systems.

There’s also the added cost of refilling the AdBlue tank; the rate of use varies from vehicle to vehicle, with some vans getting through a litre of the stuff every 200-250 miles while others may go three times as far.

What are the advantages for vans?

On the plus side, the move to Euro 6.2 increases engine efficiency – which means better fuel economy. In many cases, Euro 6.2 engines are more powerful than their Euro 5 and 6 equivalents.

Euro 6.2 also reduces CO2 emissions, helping to decrease the carbon footprint of companies with large fleets – which can help with taxation. Similarly, should the Government ever choose to move LCVs onto a CO2-based road tax system from the current fixed rate, owner-drivers will also benefit from lower CO2 vehicles.

Then there is London’s proposed Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) for 2020, which will require all non-Euro 6 or 6.2 LCVs to pay a daily fee, in a manner similar to the Congestion Charge.

APlan