Car labelling promotes greener cars

The pilot scheme will enable car-buyers to compare the environmental performance of cars, using colour-coded labels similar to the EU energy labels for appliances. Labels will be based on the carbon dioxide emission bands that determine how much vehicle excise duty (VED) people pay.

The pilot will target both new cars and second hand cars registered since March 2001 that are sold in commercial premises, and will run in selected show rooms.

Launching the pilot scheme, Transport Minister David Jamieson said motorists were increasingly aware of the environmental effect of cars, particularly since the new VED system based on CO2 emissions.

Since January 2001, the UK has had a legal requirement, under EU Directive 99/94/EC, to ensure that all new cars carry a label showing CO2 emissions per km and fuel consumption. The information must also be printed on posters displayed at showrooms, in promotional literature and in a free guidebook listing data for all models of passenger cars on sale.

A similar labelling scheme was recently launched in Switzerland (see related story).