KEY POINTS:
The Government is looking at introducing fuel economy stickers for new and used cars, similar to the energy ratings labels on household appliances such as fridges.
A study document from Energy Minister David Parker released during this week's Energywise Rally says the preferred option is to have mandatory labelling at the point of sale using statistics from the Government's fuelsaver website.
It has pretty much dismissed the voluntary sticker system used here by carmakers Honda and Kia.
"This option is not preferred because it currently has a low level of uptake and there is nothing to suggest that this would improve as long as it remains voluntary," the study says.
A sticker referring the car's owner to the Government's fuelsaver site for economy details has also been largely dismissed, because, the study says, it would be of use only to consumers with access to the internet.
The discussion document also rules out labelling only new cars - most of the country's car fleet is made up of used Japanese imports and this option would create compliance costs for the new vehicle industry only.
"A scheme applying to both new and used vehicles would therefore have more impact on improving fuel economy across the fleet."
The study says the purpose of the labels is to improve fuel efficiency of the light-vehicle fleet by providing consumers with comparative fuel consumption information.
"This will enable more informed purchase decisions and increased uptake of more fuel-efficient vehicles."
The study says benefits would include a reduction in greenhouse gas and tailpipe emissions and an improvement in energy security.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of car ownership in the world, thanks largely to the availability of used Japanese imports.
The average age of the car fleet is about 12 years - one of the oldest in the developed world - and the average fuel consumption is estimated to be 9.3 litres/100km, or just over 30mpg, says the study.
Last year, it says, 230,000 new and used cars and vans entered the country. Of these, 80,000 were new vehicles with fuel usage information based mostly on European Union tests.
But of the remaining 150,000 used vehicles, only 25 per cent (37,500) came with fuel economy details. Of the country's car park of 2.6 million vehicles, 150,000 have fuel consumption figures.
The study says vehicles consume around 86 per cent of the oil used each year in New Zealand and are responsible for 19 per cent of greenhouse gas and 40 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions.
"These emission levels may become even greater if the number of vehicles continues to increase rapidly."
Honda's head office in Japan says that since 1995 it has reduced fuel consumption by an average of 30 per cent and emissions by 86 per cent. It is aiming for a further 5 per cent in fuel savings by 2010.
Honda NZ is putting fuel information on its demonstrator cars, specific to the model, engine capacity and transmission. It is based on an Auckland-Taupo-Auckland "optimum highway" test.
Honda is the first carmaker to include the results of a fuel test under New Zealand conditions. Others have made available the results of overseas tests.
Kia has been putting stickers with European Union findings on its range for three years. Its Chinese-owned Korean rival, SsangYong, has used EU results in advertisements.
SsangYong importer Russell Burling says he supports the Government proposal.
"Fuel economy and exhaust emissions is what it's all about these days," he says. "The industry is moving so fast. Hybrids are gaining ground, fuel economy is improving, emissions are cleaner, fuel-cell vehicles are getting closer.
"New Zealand motoring needs a goal, an industry benchmark for fuel economy, emissions, crash safety, that sort of thing."
Burling says Government must "clean up the used imports debacle".
"At the moment we are a dumping ground for the world's junk," he says. "Countries we regard as less developed and poorer than us don't allow this stuff in.
"The average age of used imports coming into New Zealand this year is nine years old. That's a lifetime in the way motoring technology is developing."
