Green NCAP is evolving: new rules in 2025 to better assess the environmental performance of vehicles

Are you familiar with Green NCAP? This program, launched in 2017, is the "little brother" of Euro NCAP. But while Euro NCAP focuses on vehicle safety, Green NCAP assesses their cleanliness and environmental performance. The rating system ranges from 1 to 5 green stars, awarded based on the results of various tests.

But in 2025, the rules are changing!

To anticipate the arrival of the European Euro 7 regulation on pollutant emissions, fuel and electricity consumption, and the electric range of vehicles, applicable at the end of 2026, Green NCAP is making significant changes to its methodology. The objective: to better differentiate the environmental performance of vehicles, regardless of their technology—particularly electric vehicles, which until now systematically received 5 stars.

The assessment is still based on three main pillars:

• Pollutant emissions (NOx, carbon monoxide, etc.)

• Energy efficiency

• Greenhouse gas emissions

... but now incorporates a full life cycle approach (LCA) that takes into account the vehicle's environmental impact throughout its entire lifespan, from manufacturing to end-of-life.

New parameters relating to the customer experience of electric vehicles are also assessed, including:  

• ⚡ Performance during fast and standard charging

• 🔄 V2X (Vehicle-to-Grid/Home/Load) features

• 🌡️ Thermal comfort of the passenger compartment

UTAC, a committed player

UTAC, a Green NCAP test center, actively participated in the working groups responsible for this redesign. A great recognition of our expertise in environmental testing and assessment!

This new version of Green NCAP marks an important step towards more sustainable mobility, with fairer and more comprehensive criteria. Learn more about our offering by clicking here.