The European Commission is preparing a legislative proposal that would exempt certain battery-electric vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes from the obligation to install an intelligent tachograph and a 90 km/h speed limiter. The initiative, expected to be presented on 10 December, forms part of a forthcoming “Automotive Omnibus” designed to cut administrative burdens in the automotive sector.
The exemption would apply to battery-electric vans that move from the light-commercial N1 category (vans up to 3.5 tonnes) to N2 (vehicles between 3.5 and 12 tonnes) solely because of the additional weight of their batteries. The Commission aims to prevent these vehicles from facing stricter N2-specific requirements such as the intelligent tachograph and the 90 km/h speed limiter. The measure is intended to avoid competitive disadvantages for electric vans compared with their diesel counterparts and to encourage wider fleet electrification without compromising road safety.
The measure is one element of a broader automotive package that the Commission plans to present in December. The internal agenda lists several initiatives under the same umbrella, including the Automotive Omnibus, a revision of the CO₂ standards for cars and vans, a “Battery Booster” strategy, and a “Greening corporate fleets” initiative.
The package follows commitments made in September during the third Strategic Dialogue with the European Automotive Industry, which focused on competitiveness, simplification, and the transition to zero-emission mobility.
Streamlined Euro 7 testing for heavy-duty vehicles
Within the same legislative bundle, the Commission is also preparing adjustments to the forthcoming Euro 7 emissions regulation.
The new rules are expected to limit the requirement for on-road Real Driving Emissions (RDE) tests to the vehicle category rather than every individual type, mirroring the approach used under the Euro VI standard.
The aim is to reduce unnecessary duplication and testing costs while maintaining environmental objectives.
Revision of CO₂ standards for cars and vans
Parallel to the December proposals, the Commission is also conducting an evaluation and impact assessment of Regulation (EU) 2019/631, which sets CO₂ emission standards for new cars and vans. A formal call for evidence confirms that the review will look at simplification, possible flexibilities, and the role of different low-carbon technologies ahead of a legislative revision scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.
What happens next
- 10 December 2025: the Commission is expected to present its automotive package, including the Automotive Omnibus that may contain the proposed exemptions for electric vans and streamlined Euro 7 testing requirements.
- Once adopted, the proposals will move to the European Parliament and the Council for negotiation and possible amendment.
- The revision of the CO₂ standards for cars and vans will follow a separate timeline, with a proposal planned for the second quarter of 2026.
Implications for operators
If approved, the exemptions could make 4.25-tonne electric vans more attractive to operators by removing the need for tachographs and speed limiters, which currently apply to vehicles in class N2.
The changes would also help fleets avoid payload losses that result from the additional battery weight of electric vehicles.
For heavy-duty manufacturers, the plan to streamline Euro 7 testing could lower compliance costs without altering emission targets.
Together, the measures fit into a wider effort to balance regulatory ambition with the competitiveness of Europe’s transport and automotive industries.
