Evolution of Emissions Legislation in Europe and Impact on Technology

The problem of exhaust emissions from passenger cars was address for the first time in Europe in 1970. The original Directive 70/220/EEC was successively amended several times in order to be adapted to the technical state of the art. The last step that was defined in December 1987 will bring about a reduction in the exhaust emission levels that can be estimated in -90% for CO, -86% for HC and -72% for NO/sub chi/ (with the exception of the small cars for which a further severization of the standards is presently under discussion). The present requirements are summarized in this paper.