Since 2016, a system of environmental labels or badges has been in force in Spain that identifies cars according to whether they pollute more or less. This qualification method, integrated in the 2013-2016 National Air Quality and Atmospheric Protection Plan, has four categories in the years described and the type of fuel.
Specifically, the Directorate General of Business (DGT) created categories B, C, ECO and NIL, which have remained unchanged for the past seven years. At this time, the system received various criticisms that it allowed vehicles to actually pollute the environment with a few small “adjustments”. As is the case with electric motors that manufacturers have placed in some orders to be able to sell them as non-plug in hybrids and thus receive the ECO label.
Types of environmental labeling DGT in force
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Label B (Yellow): Gasoline passenger cars and light vans registered since January 1, 2001 and Diesel since 2006.
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Label C (Green): gasoline passenger cars and light vans registered from January 2006 and diesel from September 2015.
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Eco Label (Blue and Green): Mainly hybrid and gas vehicles. Plug-in electric cars with a range of less than 40 km, no plug-in hybrid (HEV), natural gas and gas vehicles (CNG and LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
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0 emissions Label (Blue): Battery cars (BEV), extended electric cars (REEV), plug in electric hybrids (PHEV) with a range of 40 km or fuel cell vehicles.
possible future change
At this time, and in response to the aforementioned criticism, various proposals for changes in the DGT classification system were made. But this never seems to happen, since a change in this sense would cause a revolution in the automotive sector.
When, if at all, this change takes place, it will be necessary to make a well-considered decision and progress in order to avoid the worst of the industry. In addition, it cannot be backward or aggravated by the manufacturers and drivers.
a new label
While it is decided whether and how the environmental label will be modified, what the DGT has done, the number of labels is increased by one more, which is not known at the moment.
Technically known as the V-26 label, it is a label that in this case does not correspond to a new environmental category, but refers to a new classification of cars.
In this case, it usually refers to carsharing or shared cars, even rental cars without a driver or cars by the hour. The bumper is also used for common motorcycles.
It has a blue sticker, with a pictogram of a white car and five people around it, always with the DGT symbol in silver. The aim is to make it easier for both users and traffic agents to identify these types of cars, so that they can be quickly distinguished in busy streets.
