The Green Vehicle Guide www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au rates vehicles on both greenhouse and air pollution. The air pollution ratings are based on the emission standard to which the vehicle is certified in Australia. As of 1 January 2006, new “Stage 2″ Air Pollution ratings took effect, to reflect the application of more stringent minimum standards for light vehicles under Australian Design Rule (ADR) 79/01 Emission Control for Light Vehicles. The Greenhouse Ratings have not changed.

The underlying principle of the air pollution ratings on the Green Vehicle Guide is that the dominant vehicle in the light duty fleet - the petrol engine passenger car - meeting the minimum emission standard of the day, should achieve a mid range score (5 out of 10). This means that when new more stringent standards are fully implemented, the ratings need to be adjusted to accommodate the improved level of performance. If this was not done, there would be a steady shift of all vehicles into the top ratings, thus inflating the overall ratings and reducing the capacity for differentiating better performers from standard vehicles. Under the new Stage 2 Air Pollution ratings, the scores for vehicles certified to the same standards will be lower than before. This does not mean the vehicles are now polluting more - it simply means that a vehicle will now need to be cleaner to receive the same rating.

Prior to 1 January 2006, all vehicles had to meet the Euro 2 emission standards under ADR79/00. From 1 January, Euro 3 became the minimum standard for petrol vehicles. Consequently, Euro 3 petrol cars - which scored 6.5 out of 10 when Euro 2 was the minimum standard - now score 5 out of 10, to reflect the new standard. The ratings for all other vehicle standards (Euro 3 diesel, Euro 4 petrol etc) were also lowered to maintain relativities with the new mid point standard. In most cases, the new ratings are 1 to 1.5 points lower. The rating for “Euro 4+“1 vehicles was only slightly lowered (from 9 to 8.5) to recognize that vehicles meeting this requirement have exceptional emissions performance by any measure and represent best available technology. The changes in ratings for petrol and diesel cars are illustrated in the table below. A more detailed table is at Stage 2 Air Pollution Ratings

Standard & Vehicle Type Air Pollution Ratings
Stage 1 (pre 2006) Stage 2 (2006 onwards)
Euro 3 petrol or LPG car

6.5

5
Euro 4 petrol or LPG car

8

6.5
Euro 3 diesel car

3.5

2.5
Euro 4 diesel car

6.5

5
“Euro 4+” (any vehicle)

9

8.5

From 1 January 2007, all light diesel vehicles will be required to meet the Euro 4 standard (the current minimum standard for diesels is Euro 2). This has already been taken into account in the Stage 2 ratings. No further change to the Air Pollution ratings is anticipated until the end of the decade, when all new petrol vehicles will be required to meet Euro 4 .

1 To meet the “Euro 4+” criterion the emissions data from the vehicle type approved for certification must be at least 65% below the Euro 4 emission limits for a petrol vehicle.

source: greenvehicleguide.gov.au

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