What are new car environmental labels?
The Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced new labels to help consumers understand the in-use environmental impact and running costs of new vehicles.
Where will you see them?
Developed with the support of a DfT technical group, of which Fuels Industry UK is a participant, the new car environmental label should be found next to every new car on display in car showrooms or at events.
Types of label
There are three versions of the label – one for cars powered by only an internal combustion engine (commonly known as petrol and diesel cars), one for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and a third for battery-only electric vehicles.
Runnings costs
A ‘running costs’ section allows motorists to compare how monthly costs may vary between vehicles – based on an average of 10,000 miles per year and consumption figures measured by the industry-standard WLTP laboratory test.
Tailpipe emissions
The label also includes a section on the tailpipe emissions of the vehicle – stating zero CO2 emissions for battery-only electric vehicles and a weighted figure for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles based on its electric-only range on the WLTP laboratory test.
The tailpipe emissions section also states the vehicle’s emissions standard and if the vehicle is compliant with the England and Wales Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
It should be noted that as this section covers tailpipe emissions, this provides information regarding the in-use vehicle exhaust emissions only. The emissions impact of other aspects of the vehicle’s lifecycle, such as manufacture, and energy generation and transfer, are not included in the label.