Western Australia Introduces New Safety Labels for Electric, Hybrid, and Hydrogen Vehicles to Protect First Responders
The Cook Government has announced a new safety labelling system for electric, hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles across Western Australia, marking a significant step in enhancing road and responder safety as the state accelerates toward a clean transport future.
From January 1, 2026, all electric (EV), hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles manufactured or modified on or after January 1, 2019, will be required to display new front and rear number plate safety labels. The initiative is designed to help emergency responders identify vehicle types quickly during road incidents involving high-voltage batteries or pressurised hydrogen systems.
Under the new system, electric vehicles will carry blue triangular labels, while hydrogen vehicles will feature yellow pentagonal labels, ensuring immediate visual recognition for first responders at crash scenes or emergencies.
“This is a simple but vital measure to protect our first responders and the wider community,” said Jessica Stojkovski, Minister Assisting the Transport Minister. “By clearly labelling electric, hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles, we enable emergency workers to take the right safety precautions immediately when attending an incident.”
Enhancing Safety for Emergency Responders
The new labels will alert firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency services to follow appropriate safety protocolswhen handling vehicles equipped with high-voltage electric systems or compressed hydrogen fuel tanks.
A 12-month transition period will apply, giving vehicle owners until January 1, 2027, to comply with the new regulations. After this date, failure to display the correct labels may result in fines of up to $800.
Vehicles manufactured before 2019 will be exempt but are strongly encouraged to adopt the new labels voluntarily to support community safety efforts.
Aligning with National Vehicle Safety Standards
The initiative aligns Western Australia with the Australian Light Vehicle Standards Rules, bringing the state into step with other jurisdictions already implementing similar EV and hydrogen vehicle labelling systems.
Vehicle owners will be responsible for purchasing and correctly attaching the safety labels to their front and rear number plates, ensuring that no registration characters are obscured. Any rear auxiliary plate must also display the appropriate label type.
This national consistency ensures that first responders across Australia can easily identify and safely manage zero-emission and hybrid vehicles, regardless of where they are registered.
“As the number of electric and hydrogen vehicles on our roads continues to grow, it’s crucial that our safety systems evolve with them,” Minister Stojkovski added. “These labels will help save lives and support our transition to cleaner, smarter transport.”
