This information provides advice to manufacturers and owners of all gaseous fuelled vehicles, and hydrogen and electric-powered vehicles (including hybrids) that are built or modified after 1 January 2019 regarding number plate warning label requirements.
Vehicles powered by gaseous fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or compressed natural gas (CNG), have been required to be fitted with labels on their number plates for many years. These labels are to assist emergency service responders to identify vehicles powered by alternative fuels and take any necessary precautions when responding.
On 1 January 2019, the requirement for number plate labelling was extended to apply to hydrogen and electric-powered vehicles (including hybrids). The existing requirements for other alternative fuel systems are unchanged.
Eligibility vehicles
Vehicles that require a warning label:
- Hydrogen-powered vehicle means a motor vehicle that is powered by a hydrogen fuel system and has one or more hydrogen fuel containers fitted to the vehicle for the system.
- Electric-powered vehicle means a motor vehicle that is powered by one or more electric motors.
- Hybrid vehicle means a motor vehicle that is powered by an internal combustion engine, regardless of fuel type, and at least one electric motor.
- Gaseous fuelled vehicles means a motor vehicle that is powered by gaseous fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and compressed natural gas (CNG).
Hydrogen and electric-powered vehicle label requirements
The label must be:
- Affixed to a plate made of metal that is at least 1mm thick.
- Compliant with class 2 of AS 1906.1 Retroreflective Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes - Retroreflective Sheeting.
The plates must be:
- Fixed conspicuously to the front and rear number plates.
- Fixed to the number plates so that the letters on the label are in an upright position.
- Permanently fixed to the number plates by mechanical means - ie rivets.
- Not wholly or partly obscure any characters on the number plates.
For electric-powered vehicles including hybrid vehicles not fuelled with hydrogen
- The metal plate and label size shall be an equilateral triangle shape each side of which is 30 mm in length.
- The label colour shall be retroreflective blue, complying with AS/ NZS 1906.1, Class 2.
- It is marked ‘EV’ in white capital letters that are at least 8mm in height.
Figure 1. Example label for electric-powered vehicles
For hydrogen-powered vehicles
- The metal plate and label size shall be a regular pentagon shape each side of which is 20 mm long.
- The label colour shall be retroreflective yellow, complying with AS/ NZS 1906.1, Class 2.
- It is marked ‘H’ in a black capital letter that is at least 10mm in height.
Figure 2. Example label for hydrogen-powered vehicles
Where a vehicle is fitted with more than one hydrogen fuel tank, two labels must be affixed to the front and rear number plates.
For hybrid vehicles fuelled with hydrogen and electricity
Vehicles fitted with an electric or traction motor in conjunction with a hydrogen fuel system for the propulsion of the vehicle must comply with the requirements for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Electric vehicle labels need not be applied in addition to the hydrogen labels.
Gaseous fuelled vehicles (LPG, LNG, and CNG)
All vehicles powered by gaseous fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or compressed natural gas (CNG), must be fitted with warning labels on their number plates.
LPG powered vehicle label requirements
- A motor vehicle with an LPG system installed must have fixed conspicuously to its front and rear number plates the labels required by the version of Australian Standard AS 1425 or Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1425 that was current at the time the system was installed in the vehicle.
- If a motor vehicle had an LPG system installed before Australian Standard AS 1425-1973 was first published, the vehicle must have fixed conspicuously to its front and rear number plates a label—
- that is made of durable material at least 25 millimetres wide and 25 millimetres high and states "LPGAS" or "LPG", or similar words or acronyms that have the same meaning, in capital letters at least 6 millimetres high; and
- that is of a reflective red that conforms with either Australian Standard AS 1743-1975 or Australian Standard AS 1906.1-1976 Retroreflective Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes—Part 1: Retroreflective Materials.
Where to buy labels
EV and H labels
The Motor Trade Association (MTA) of South Australia in conjunction with Lane Communications supplies labels for hydrogen vehicles, hybrids, and electric vehicles.
The labels can be purchased directly from:
Lane Communications
101 Mooringe Ave, Camden Park
Telephone: 08 8179 9900
Email: orders.mta@laneprint.com.au
You can also source these EV labels from other suppliers as long as the labels meet the criteria listed above.
LPG labels
LPG labels (plates) can be purchased from Service SA or online through the Service SA shop.
Vehicle Standards reference: MR1637.
