FROM JULY 1, 2023, ENERGY LABEL MUST BE AFFIXED TO NEW MANUFACTURED AND ASSEMBLED MOTORCYCLES AND ELECTRIC CARS BEFORE BEING INTRODUCED TO THE MARKET

A vehicle's energy label (or "energy label") is a label that provides information related to the type of fuel used and the fuel consumption level of the vehicle. Through energy label, consumers can comprehend the information of the vehicles they use, and have grounds to choose vehicles with appropriate fuel consumption level.

According to Clause 4 Article 1 of Decision No. 04/2017/QD-TTg dated 09/3/2017 ("Decision 04"), the transport vehicles including: Passenger cars of up to 9 seats, motorcycles required to bear energy label. In the guiding circulars, energy label has been being applied for passenger cars of up to 07 seats, passenger cars of over 07 seats to 09 seats, motorcycles that are manufactured, assembled and imported (using fuel as gasoline,  LPG, diesel and NG). For other types of vehicles and equipment, including electric cars, motorcycles, energy labeling is only "voluntary".

Currently, the electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly industry has been rapidly developing and gradually replace vehicles using gasoline and oil fuel. Therefore, on 30/12/2022, the Minister of Transport issued Circular No. 48/2022/TT-BGTVT ("Circular 48") guiding on energy labeling for electric and hybrid electric cars and motorcycles (hereinafter referred to as "Electric Vehicles") to ensure compliance with Decision 04.

Circular 48 has some notable points as follows:

Types of Electric Vehicle must bear energy label

1. Types of vehicles subject to Circular 48, which are vehicles manufactured or assembled from loose, completely new or imported unused components.
2. Circular 48 does not apply to electric vehicles not used for market sale purposes.

What is on the energy label of an Electric Vehicle

Each energy label of the Electric Vehicle contains information about energy consumption, specifically information about the amount of electricity consumed by the vehicle over a distance, according to the conditions, the test cycle determined.

Responsibilities of manufacturers, organizations and individuals importing vehicles (“Importers”)

1. Conduct Electric Vehicle test registration for obtaining Energy Consumption Report: Manufacturers or Importers must register for testing at a licensed testing to obtain an Energy Consumption Report.

2. Disclosure of energy consumption information: Based on the Energy Consumption Report, manufacturers or Importers must publicize information on energy consumption. The information disclosure shall be carried out in the following forms:

1. Send a public copy of energy consumption to the Register Department for publication on the Department's website;
2. Post the energy consumption on the website of the manufacturers or Importers (if any).

3. Energy labeling: After submitting a public disclosure of the above energy consumption, manufacturers or Importers must implement energy labeling on each vehicle before putting them on the market.

Notes:

• Information disclosure of a type of vehicle must be maintained throughout the period when such type of vehicle is being provided to the market by the manufacturers or Importers.
• The energy label must be maintained on the vehicle until it is delivered to the consumer.
• Energy labeling is not required for manufactured or assembled vehicles with ex-factory quality inspection certificates issued before 01/07/2023 or new imported vehicles which have arrived at ports or border checkpoints of Vietnam before this date.

Circular 48 shall take effect from 01/07/2023. However, in order to protect the interests of consumers as well as to create competitiveness for vehicle manufacturers, importers and businesses, energy labeling under this Circular is encouraged before 01/07/2023.