Study of Euro 7 Secondary Legislation and Its Impacts on High-Performance Vehicles: From Technical Requirements to the Future Implementation of Renewable Fuels

The growing concern over climate change and pollution is driving global authorities to adopt measures aimed at achieving a sustainable future. In this context, the automotive industry finds itself at a crossroads. Europe provides a particularly illustrative example: increasingly stringent vehicle emission regulations impose ever-tighter targets and real-time monitoring to ensure compliance throughout the entire vehicle life cycle, demanding significant efforts from manufacturers. At the same time, the long-term objectives of achieving zero CO2 emissions for new vehicles by 2035 and climate neutrality by 2050 are reshaping the future of mobility toward the elimination of fossil fuel dependence, where a technology-neutral approach becomes essential. While electric vehicles are widely regarded as the primary pathway toward sustainable mobility, expanding the scope beyond tailpipe emissions to include the overall environmental impact highlights the important role of alternative renewable fuels — such as biofuels and e-fuels. These fuels can be implemented in the existing circulating fleet with minimal modifications and have the potential to achieve near-neutral CO2 cycles, as the carbon emitted during combustion can be offset by that absorbed during production. However, their precise role and regulatory framework within vehicle emission legislation remain uncertain and are still under development. This thesis presents a critical study of the Euro 7 secondary legislation, the latest iteration of European vehicle emission standards, focusing on the methodologies and testing procedures used to verify compliance and certify vehicles, the subject of Chapter 2. Additionally, Chapter 3 examines the implications of these requirements for high-performance vehicle design. The forthcoming initiatives to incorporate alternative renewable fuels within the Euro 7 framework are discussed in Chapter 4 as a foundation for future secondary legislation. Accordingly, Chapter 5 explores the current landscape of biofuels and e-fuels, along with the existing regulatory approaches. Finally, Chapter 6 compares the effects of different formulations of alternative renewable fuels on high-performance engines, aiming to identify potential candidates capable of substituting conventional fossil fuels.