Air Pollution
Air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, benzene and many others are emitted into the environment by motor vehicles. Air pollutants can contribute to urban air quality problems, for example photochemical smog, as well as adversely affect human health and the health of other living things. More information on the impacts and sources of air pollutants is available from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. However, not all vehicles contribute the same amount of air pollution to the atmosphere.
The National Pollutant Inventory data indicate that in Australia motor vehicles remain a major cause of air pollution in urban areas.
Air Pollution Rating
When you use the Green Vehicle Guide, look for vehicles which have a higher Air Pollution Rating. The Air Pollution Rating is based on the level of air pollutant emissions allowable under the standard to which the particular vehicle has been successfully tested to for supply to the Australian market.
Under Australia's emission standards, vehicles fuelled by petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or natural gas (NG) vehicles are required to meet limits for the emission of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). In addition to these pollutants, diesel vehicles must also meet a limit for the emission of particulate matter (PM). The Air Pollution Ratings also take into account the relative environmental impact of each of these pollutants.
Under the emission standards, the emission limits applicable to a particular vehicle vary according to the mass of the vehicle, its fuel type and whether it is a passenger or goods carrying vehicle.
The current Australian standard, ADR79/02 Emissions Control for Light Vehicles, adopts the international standard developed by the United Nations commonly referred to as Euro 4. Because the Air Pollution Ratings for a vehicle is derived from the emission standard to which it has been certified in Australia, the Green Vehicle Guide provides the capacity to identify vehicles with advanced air pollution performance. It should be noted, however, that some vehicle models may be certified to a different emission standard in other countries. The decision to certify a vehicle to the minimum standard only in Australia is at the discretion of individual vehicle manufacturers.
A standard petrol engined passenger car meeting the current emission standard receives a mid-point air pollution rating (5/10) on the Green Vehicle Guide.
The former air pollution rating scale (Stage 1), which was based on ADR79/00 (Euro 2) being the minimum standard, ceased to apply at the end of 2005. A new rating scale (Stage 2) applies from 1 January 2006 to reflect the application of more stringent minimum standards for light vehicles under ADR79/01.
A detailed breakdown is provided to show how ratings were applied under Stage 1 Air Pollution Ratings (PDF: 429KB) and now apply under Stage 2 Air Pollution Ratings (PDF: 433KB)