Over the past few years, the tightening of the European rules on emissions and the introduction of mandatory Adas have increased the industrial costs and, therefore, involved an important rise in the price lists
Today’s cars are much more expensive than in the past, even recent, and this is indisputable. However, they are also much more complex, Following the environmental regulations and for the safety that have gradually introducedthe respect of which involves not indifferent charges for the manufacturer (and, consequently, for the consumer). Just a small review of what has changed in recent times, taking 2019 as a reference, the year immediately preceding the Covid pandemic that joined the market for a long time, to realize it.
Euro in euros
–
From the point of view of emissions, new enrollment cars must respect The Euro 6 legislation as early as 1 September 2015but if it were only so it would be all too simple. Because the European Union did not wait for the future Euro 7 regulation to introduce changes, but has done so almost uninterruptedly in recent years, forcing manufacturers to adapt from time to time to more stringent limits. Since January 2016, in fact, several “bands” of approval have been introduced, always characterized by the number 6, however followed by a letter from the alphabet. Thus, in January 2016 the rule was taken for new enrollment Euro 6thwhich provided for a reduction in NOX emissions (nitrogen oxides) and particulates, later modified by Euro 6bmore restrictive on thin particles. In September 2018 (for new registrations, a year earlier for new homologations) was the turn of the directive Euro 6Cwhose most significant change was the reduction of the volumes of particulates admitted to the exhaust: an obligation that also involved the adoption of the relative filter, until then provided for diesel cars, also on those with petrol engines. Also in 2018 the protocol was adopted WLTP (Worldwide Hormonized Light Vehicle test procedures)which makes emissions measurements based on more realistic procedures than in the past. The introduction of the standard Euro 6Din September 2019, took place first in an “softened” version called Euro 6D-Tempthen, from January 2021, in the defined one Euro 6D-Finalmore severe in test tolerances. The procedure, in fact, provided for the adoption of the protocol RDE (Real Driving Emission) Based on real measurements, carried out with the car on the road and no longer in laboratory tests: the waste between the values obtained at the counter and those detected with the RDE method must not exceed 50%.
It is not over
–
If all this is not enough, waiting for it to clarify what will happen in 2035 regarding the obligation to enroll in electric cars only, the next stage has already been set with the standard Euro 7to which the cars approved will have to follow starting from 29 November 2026 (and registered from 29 November 2027). A softened legislation with respect to the initial forecasts, but which, while maintaining limits of emissions close to those provided for in Euro 6, in any case introduces new concepts such as that of emissions not related to engines of engines (for example, the release of particulates from brakes and tires). This means that electric cars will also have to respect some values. Respect for the limits must also be maintained for 10 years or 200 thousand kilometers and tests will be conducted in real and more severe driving conditions (for example, even with extreme temperatures).
mandatory aid
–
However, the issue of exhaust gases regulations is not the only one to affect today’s cars. From 7 July 2024, in fact, on the basis of EU Regulation 2019/2144 All new enrollment cars they must mount automatic aid systems to the driver (said Adas) that contribute to reducing incidentality on European roads. Even the small cars, such as the Fiat Panda, had to be equipped as standard with systems such as the Intelligent Speed Assist (which recognizes the speed limits imposed by the signs and warns the driver with visual and sound signals), the Automatic Emergency Braking (the automatic emergency braking in the presence of obstacles and absence of an adequate reaction of the driver, with the activation of the four arrows), the Drive) Attention Alert (monitoring of the driver’s state of attention), the Lane Keeping System (the maintenance system in the lane of travel, in the absence of drive of the direction indicators), the sensors or the rear camera for reverse, a black box for the collection of data relating to previous moments an accident and in its performance, the monitoring of the pressure of the tires and the preparation to the installation of the alcoholck, the device that prevents the lighting of the vehicle if the sensors detect an alcohol content not compliant with the legislation.
make noise
–
The silence of the electric cars (and the plug-in hybrid ones in electric driving mode) can be dangerous for pedestrians: that’s why, from 1 July 2019has been made mandatory by the EU for new cars (and from 2021 for those circulating) a system of production of an artificial sound with at least 56 decibels intensity, emitted up to a speed of 20 km/he in reverse.
the weight of the rules
–
As can be seen, even in the last six years the equipment imposed by all regulations have considerably affected cars, inevitably increasing costs; some time ago, Jean Philippe Imparatohead of the European markets of Stellantis, has estimated in 2 thousand euros the expenditure necessary for a small car to obtain the necessary approval. And recently, at the Monaco Motor Show, he stressed that, while in 2019 there were 49 models with a price of less than 15 thousand euros, today only one counts. Perhaps the numbers expressed are not exactly precise, but the photography of reality is still this: today’s cars, including Citycar, are too onerous for the average power of purchase of consumers. Therefore, it should be understood which, among their characteristics and equipment, are really necessary, without this naturally affecting the safety and protection of the environment.
© RESERVED REPRODUCTION