France Introduces Mandatory 'Energy Score' for Used Cars, Similar to Nutri-Score System
Starting January 1, 2025, France will implement a mandatory environmental labeling system for all used cars sold by professionals. This new regulation, announced by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, functions similarly to the well-known Nutri-Score for food, assigning vehicles a letter grade from A to E based on their CO2 emissions.
The label, officially called the "Energy Score," must be clearly displayed in all advertisements and at points of sale, including dealerships and online platforms. It is calculated using the vehicle's official CO2 emission data (in grams per kilometer) from its original certificate of conformity. The goal is to provide consumers with immediate, standardized information to compare the environmental impact of different models and encourage a shift towards cleaner vehicles.
The grading scale is as follows:
* A (Green): Less than 50 g CO2/km (primarily electric vehicles).
* B (Light Green): 51 to 100 g CO2/km.
* C (Yellow): 101 to 130 g CO2/km.
* D (Orange): 131 to 180 g CO2/km.
* E (Red): More than 180 g CO2/km (high-polluting models).
This initiative, part of the broader "Climate and Resilience" law, aims to bring transparency to the used car market, which sees over 5 million transactions annually in France. The government hopes it will steer buyers towards lower-emission options, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of the national vehicle fleet. The system currently applies only to sales by professional dealers, not private individuals.