General-issue number plates in NSW will now be manufactured with built-in safety labels for electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles, rather than an adhesive sticker fitted by a dealership or a customer.
Electric Cars
Number plates in New South Wales will now be manufactured with a built-in safety label for electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles, rather than an adhesive sticker usually fitted by a dealer or customer.
In the Australian-first, the existing blue triangle-shaped 'EV' symbol for electric and hybrid vehicles or yellow pentagon-shaped 'H' for hydrogen vehicles will be stamped into a random allocation of general-issue NSW number plates during the manufacturing process.
Previously, the safety labels – which are mandatory for all electric, hybrid and hydrogen light vehicles registered in NSW – were applied with an adhesive sticker, usually when registered for the first time at the dealership, with guidelines for how it should be fitted.
Dealerships can now order new sets of number plates with the built-in safety labels, which are available for yellow general-issue plates, white bordered slimline plates, regulatory plates for buses, tourist vehicles, tow trucks and consulate vehicles, and conditional registration vehicles.
While new custom-order number plates in NSW will be manufactured without the safety label by default, customers will be able to request that the electric or hydrogen safety label be integrated into the plate when it is manufactured.
Drive understands that if a customer has number plates with a built-in label and decides to transfer them to a non-electric car, they would need to order a new set of plates with the same combination and purchase a temporary government-issued plate while they wait for manufacture.
Transport for NSW executive director of road safety regulation Duncan Lucas said the integrated safety label is more durable than the adhesive stickers and ensures drivers stay compliant.
"Electric vehicles are the fastest growing market in the Australian automotive industry, with 367,000 electric and hybrid vehicles registered in NSW," Lucas said.
"NSW is the first state in Australia to introduce a safety label plate, which will help emergency services quickly identify an alternative fuel vehicle in a crash or fire.
"Unlike adhesive labels, the safety label is pressed into the plate like the numbers and letters, making it more durable and allowing the fuel type to be identified by its unique shape.
"Having a ‘built-in’ identifier also makes it easier for owners and drivers to stay compliant, with less maintenance and better long-term durability, and ensures correct placement of the safety label on the number plate for easier identification during an emergency."
Fire and Rescue NSW inspector Daniel O'Dea added electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles "pose unique risks, including high voltage electricity, unexpected vehicle movement or in some cases fires from the vehicle's battery pack".
"When the complication of a rescue is also involved, different techniques are required to avoid high voltage cables and to implement a fire protection strategy – and having a visible fuel identifier is a critical focal point for our [firefighting and first responder] crews," O'Dea said.
Safety labels for electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles – as well as cars powered by gaseous fuels such as LPG – are mandatory in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the NT.
Mild-hybrid and full-hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota LandCruiser Prado, Mazda CX-60 and Toyota RAV4, must be fitted with a blue EV tag as they include high-voltage electrical components, even if they do not require plugging in.
While the safety labels are not currently mandated for EVs in Western Australia, the Australian Electric Vehicle Association recommends drivers fit the tags to their vehicle, "no matter the age and no matter whether it is technically required in your state or not".
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Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
