Briefing
Deficiencies in the Brazilian PROCONVE P-7 and the case for P-8 standards
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In January 2012, Brazil implemented the PROCONVE P-7 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) to replace the previous P-5 standards (Euro III-equivalent). The P-7 standards were designed to be equivalent to Euro V standards, introduced in Europe in 2008, and lowered limits on emissions of local air pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and particulate matter (PM).
This paper highlights implementation and compliance issues with PROCONVE P-7 standards for heavy-duty vehicles in Brazil, and identifies policy pathways to overcome these issues. Because Brazil is the first developing country to adopt Euro V-equivalent standards for HDVs, this paper also provides lessons learned for other developing countries on the Euro pathway. The most effective option for rectifying these issues is to quickly advance to the next PROCONVE P-8 phase, align it with Euro VI standards, and ensure there are no regulatory loopholes.