11Simplified outline of this Part

11 Simplified outline of this Part

This Part establishes the new vehicle efficiency standard.

The standard applies to any person who has a covered vehicle for a year beginning on or after 1 January 2025. Generally, a covered vehicle for a year is a passenger or light commercial vehicle that is entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles for the first time during the year (or during the second half of the year in the case of a covered vehicle for 2025).

Some vehicles are exempt from the standard. Any vehicle with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonnes is exempt. The Minister may also determine that other classes of vehicle are exempt.

A person to whom the standard applies in a particular year must ensure that, on the third 1 February after the end of the year, their final emissions value for the year is zero or less. Failure to achieve this may result in a civil penalty.

A person’s final emissions value for a year is their interim emissions value for the year minus the number of units they have extinguished under Part 3 for the purpose of reducing their final emissions value.

A person’s interim emissions value for a year is worked out by comparing, for each covered vehicle for the person for the year, the carbon dioxide emissions of the vehicle entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles against an emissions target. The target takes into account the vehicle’s particular characteristics. If the vehicle produces fewer emissions than its target, a negative number is generated; if not, a positive number or zero is generated. These numbers are summated to obtain the person’s interim emissions value for the year.

A positive interim emissions value for a year indicates that a person’s vehicles have collectively underperformed their emissions targets, whereas a negative value indicates overperformance. If a person has a negative interim emissions value for a year, the Secretary must issue units to the person under Part 3.

The Minister may determine, by legislative instrument, a range of matters relevant to the vehicle efficiency standard.

Before making such a determination, the Minister must consult with the public.