Fuel consumption label

Fuel_consumption_labelThe fuel consumption labelling standard (ADR81/02) requires a model specific fuel consumption label to be placed on the windscreens of all new vehicles up to 3.5 tonne gross vehicle mass. The removable label shows the fuel consumption of the car in litres/100km and the CO2 emissions in g/km based on a standard test. The label enables new car buyers to compare vehicles on a common basis.

As of 1 March 2011, ADR81/02 also applies to electric vehicles and requires an energy consumption label to be placed on the windscreens of all new pure electric and externally chargeable (“plug-in”) hybrid electric vehicles. This label shows the vehicles energy consumption in Watt hours/km, expected range when fully charged, fuel consumption in litres/100km and CO2 emissions in g/km based on a standard test.

While the label alerts consumers to potential for CO2 emissions from recharging, it does not attempt to quantify those emissions on the label, as this will depend on how the electricity is generated. Consumers are encouraged to visit the Green Vehicle Guide website to estimate the vehicle's recharge emissions.
Energy_consumption_label

An updated label format will soon replace the current labels

On 18 November 2025, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Catherine King MP adopted a new Australian Design Rule 81/03, to align Australia’s labelling requirements with the improved laboratory testing requirements mandated by Australian Design Rule 79/05 (equivalent to Euro 6d).

The new label format will apply to newly approved vehicle models supplied for the first time from 1 July 2026 and all new light vehicles supplied from 1 July 2028.

Diagram showing an example of a completed energy consumption label for a petrol non-plug-in hybrid vehicle with CO2 emissions greater than 50 grams per kilometre. This vehicle when tested consumed 4.5 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres and emitted 104 grams of CO2 per kilometre. As this vehicle is not powered by electricity, it has NA for the electric energy consumption and battery range figure.
Diagram showing an example of a completed energy consumption label for a plug-in hybrid vehicle with CO2 emissions less than or equal to 50 grams per kilometre. This vehicle when tested consumed 2.0 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, emitted 46 grams of CO2 per kilometre, consumed 189 watt hours of electricity per kilometre and had a battery range of 53 kilometres.

Key changes from the current label include:

  • A common label format all vehicles, like the current energy consumption label format for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
  • A colour coded box for the vehicle’s CO2 emissions (vehicles with a CO2 emission number under 50 grams per km will have a green box, other vehicles will have a red box).
  • Updated terminology to make it clearer what CO2 Emissions, Energy Consumption and Range mean.
    • CO2 Emissions will become Tailpipe CO2 Emissions
    • Energy Consumption will become Electric Energy Consumption
    • Range will become Battery Range
  • Updated disclaimers and advice on information available on the Green Vehicle Guide website.

As the new test does not produce an ‘urban’ or ‘extra-urban’ number, the new label will only provide a combined fuel consumption number from the full test.

As the new test is more stringent than the current test, the figures on the new label are expected to reflect how vehicles perform on the road better. However, the results you achieve on the road will still vary depending on how you use your vehicle, as no test (laboratory on on-road) can cover every way a vehicle is used.

The Green Vehicle Guide website is being updated to identify which vehicles have been tested to the new standards.