Trucks and buses meeting Euro V pollution standards emit three times more NOx than they are supposed to in urban areas, according to a Dutch note citing a study released by research institute TNO in February. EU countries may struggle to meet air quality targets as a result, the note states.

Dutch officials are also worried this will make it harder to meet national emission ceilings for NOx and nature conservation targets. Euro V lorries in urban areas are only marginally cleaner than more polluting Euro III vehicles, the T&O study has found.

The findings are in line with a recent study from Sweden, say the Dutch officials. The Netherlands wants EU environment ministers to back its call to take the findings into account for Euro VI standards for trucks and buses Rules for implementing the standards are being developed under comitology. The problem is that the Euro standards are set on the basis of laboratory tests.

These appear to correspond well to conditions for motorway driving, but not urban driving.

In their note the Dutch also suggest the European Commission should negotiate an agreement with vehicle manufacturers to modify the calibration software of Euro V vehicles to better reflect actual driving conditions.