Label 0 or ECO label: which one is more useful?

Recently, having a DGT label has become very important, as it can determine whether we are allowed to enter the centre of some cities or not. The two most useful and practical labels for this are the 0 and ECO labels. With them we can drive through the urban centres of cities, and they are the ones that indicate lower consumption and polluting emissions.

This means that having a car that can carry these 0 or ECO labels is very cost-effective, not only on an economic level due to its lower fuel consumption, but also on an environmental level. But do we really know the characteristics of these two labels and which one suits us best? Let’s look at their advantages.

0 label

The 0 label is given to cars with zero emissions, that is, those that are purely electric, and plug-in hybrids that can run in electric mode for more than 40 kilometres. Cars with the 0 label run on electricity, either from a battery connected to the electricity grid or from a fuel cell powered by hydrogen. Hydrogen produces no polluting emissions; instead, it generates water vapour as a by-product.

Electric vehicles with the 0 label can drive through the centre of cities with restrictions without problems, and have the option of using regulated parking zones free of charge. These are all advantages for cars with the 0 label.

But electric cars are not the only ones that carry the 0 label. As we have seen, plug-in hybrid cars with a purely electric range of more than 40 kilometres are also cars that can carry the 0 label.

This is because it is understood that in the city they can run in electric mode, without having to use the combustion engine. The classification of plug-in hybrids is in question and could change soon, so this must be taken into account if you opt for a car of this type.

ECO labels

ECO labels are used by hybrid cars, both electric and those running on other fuels such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), as they have lower emissions of polluting gases. Plug-in hybrids with an electric range of less than 40 kilometres also fall into this category.

These types of vehicles also have benefits for driving through city centres, as well as discounts in regulated parking zones, although in many cases these are not free as they are with cars with the 0 label.

Cars with the ECO label can also use the VAO lanes, which are lanes for traffic entering cities for authorised vehicles. The ECO label is very advantageous and, above all, offers the possibility of driving through restricted traffic zones without having to rely on an electric powertrain.

The most interesting label

So, which DGT label is most interesting for us? Obviously, the 0 label is the most suitable, but to obtain it a considerable amount of money must be invested, because an electric car or a plug-in hybrid with a range of more than 40 kilometres is needed. But be careful, because some plug-in hybrid models may lose this label if emissions are reviewed in line with the changes expected in the near future.

Plug-in hybrids may move to ECO label, which enjoys a broader range and in which more models are included, with a wider price range. And it should be remembered that although they are not considered electric vehicles and do not enjoy the same urban driving advantages, they still have many more than cars with C label or B label.

As with plug-in hybrids with an electric range greater than 40 kilometres, in the case of Mild Hybrid models the ECO category could be withdrawn, so this must be taken into account if you want to enjoy the advantages this label offers when buying a model with 48-volt light hybridisation.