The Australian Government is introducing new fuel quality and noxious emission standards to save $6.1 billion in health and fuel costs by 2040.
The standards will increase access to cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles in Australia, strengthen our fuel security and lower greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.
The two fuel quality changes starting from December 2025 will lower noxious emissions from light vehicles.
The first change will reduce the level of aromatic hydrocarbons to a maximum of 35% in 95 RON (research octane number) petrol. Aromatics are a natural component of crude oil that aids engine performance, but at high levels can cause operability issues.
All vehicles will be able to use the new 95 RON petrol. The existing 91 and 98 RON petrol grades (88% of Australia’s petrol use) and diesel will be unaffected.
Motorists can expect an increase of just $8 per year—or 15 cents a week—for an average passenger vehicle running on 95 RON grade petrol. Light commercial vehicles can expect a $13 yearly increase.
The cost is more than offset by the benefits of this initiative, including the import of more fuel-efficient vehicles and health savings.
The second change will align the previously announced reduction of sulfur allowed in all petrol grades (91 RON, 95 RON and 98 RON) with the start date of the new aromatics limit. This will simplify the transition for fuel suppliers and consumers.
The changes will also allow Australia to adopt the Euro 6d noxious emissions standards and remove almost 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector by 2050.
Euro 6d standards lower the harmful effects of noxious vehicle emissions on public health and protect Australians from strokes, cancers and respiratory illnesses.
Noxious vehicle emissions contributed to more than 1,700 deaths in Australia in 2015—42% more than the road fatalities for that year.
The Euro 6d standards will apply to:
- new light vehicle models introduced to the Australian market from December 2025
- new vehicles from existing lines in 2028.
The changes follow extensive consultations with industry, consumer groups and the community by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
