Environment regulators to incentivize lighter EVs

[Photos captured from the European Parliament‘s website]

The European Union‘s new regulations on vehicle emission, dubbed Euro 7, will be effective by the end of 2027. The set of rules is drawing the global auto industry’s attention, as it regulates particulate matter that can be generated by brakes or tires of an electric vehicle (EVs) as well as emissions produced by internal combustion vehicles.

Sources familiar with the matter, including officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Environment, said on Wednesday that Euro 7 could come into effect as early as in the second half of 2026.

The European emissions standards are a groundbreaking set of regulations on non-exhaust emissions, such as particles from brakes and tires, as well as exhaust emissions.

Euro 7 set limits on even vehicles powered by renewable sources, including EVs. Because of their batteries, electric cars are much heavier than conventional vehicles and tend to generate significant particulate matter from their brakes and tires while on the road.

The Korean Ministry of Environment has recently implemented a strategy to provide subsidies for lighter EVs, as outlined in the electric vehicle subsidy program announced Tuesday, in response to the new standards. This approach involves using a “battery efficiency factor” across all vehicles, which gives better scores to high-performing EVs equipped with lighter batteries.