Particulate emissions standards

Thanks to the steady improvements in technology, particulate emissions from new vehicles have been reduced by 95% over the past thirty years.

Vehicles sold by PSA Peugeot Citroën meet and often exceed standards ruling in each local market.

In Europe, the Group’s petrol and diesel-powered cars comply with Euro IV standards for CO, HC, NOx and particulate matter emissions. Introduced in 2005, these standards have reduced the maximum admissible level of emissions from petrol and dieselpowered cars by half compared with the preceding Euro III standards.

The next stage, Euro V, was approved in late 2006 for application on 1 September 2009 for new models and in January 2011 for all new car registrations. The following stage, Euro VI, will come into effect on 1 September 2015 for new models and in September 2014 for all new car registrations.

Together, these new standards will demand a sharp reduction in the maximum admissible levels of particulate matter and NOx emissions.

Eliminating particulate emissions with the particulate filter



Comments :
The environmental performance of diesel engines has been further enhanced by the particulate filter, which eliminates emissions of particulate matter. Widely promoted by PSA Peugeot Citroën, this after-treatment system is playing an important role in improving the quality of air in urban environments.

The particulate filter has been highly popular since it was introduced in May 2000, and by the end of 2007, it had already been installed on more than 2.3 million Peugeot and Citroën vehicles. Nearly 35% of the Peugeot and Citroën diesels sold that year were equipped with a particulate filter, a sharp increase from prior years.

It is now available on the Peugeot 1007, 207, 307, 308, 407, 607 and 807 and the Citroën C3, C4, C4 Picasso, Xsara Picasso, C5, C6 and C8. It will be extended to all other models in the medium-term future.

 Euro IV standards



HC: Unburned hydrocarbons ; CO: Carbon monoxide ; NOx: Nitrogen oxides

Comments :
Issued in 1972, the first automobile emission standards only concerned carbon monoxide (CO). Standards in force in the European Union are currently in the Euro IV stage.

 Euro V standards



* Applies only to vehicles with lean-burn, direct-injection petrol engines.
** In 2013, a change in the measurement procedure will reduce the maximum admissible level to 0.0045 from 0.005 (equivalent theoretical value).
HC: Unburned hydrocarbons ; CO: Carbon monoxide ; NOx: Nitrogen oxides

 Euro VI standards



* Euro VI also introduces particle number emission limits.
** In 2013, a change in the measurement procedure will reduce the maximum admissible level to 0.0045 from 0.005 (equivalent theoretical value).
HC: Unburned hydrocarbons ; CO: Carbon monoxide ; NOx: Nitrogen oxides

 Diesel-engine emission standards for passenger cars since 1993



Comments :
Cars equipped with the diesel particulate filter already comply with Euro V and Euro VI particulate matter standards.
In addition to the particulate filter, the Peugeot and Citroën line-ups have also integrated such technological advances as:
- Higher common-rail injection pressures.
- Introduction of a variable percentage exhaust gas recirculation system, for better control of NOx emissions.

 Petrol-engine emission standards for passenger cars since 1993



Comments :
Advances in petrol engine technology have been led by making three-way catalytic converters more efficient, mainly by enabling them to reach operating temperatures more quickly.