 
1 
 Annex 
 
Outline of draft regulation for test procedure of fuel and electric energy 
consumption for heavy duty vehicles 
(Draft partial amendments of “Public Notice that Prescribes Details of Safety 
Regulations for Road Transport Vehicles”, etc.) 
 
１．Background 
In the face of climate change issues, there have been growing global trends for carbon 
neutrality. In Japan, in October 2020, the Government committed the carbon neutrality in 
2050, followed by "the Action against Global Warming" in October 2021, which raised the 
target of a 46% reduction of greenhouse gases (over 2013 year). On the other hand, the 
transportation sector has a 18% share of whole CO2 emissions in Japan, and about 90% 
of CO2 emissions from the transportation sector consist of road transportation (i.e., owner 
cars, trucks, and buses). Furthermore, heavy-duty vehicles account for about half of CO2 
emissions from the road transportation. 
In these contexts, towards carbon neutrality, Japan needs to take actions such as 
promoting electrified heavy-duty vehicles (Pure electric vehicle (PEV), Fuel cell hybrid 
vehicle (FCV), Off-vehicle charging hybrid electric vehicle (OVC-HEV), Non off-vehicle 
charging hybrid electric vehicle (NOVC-HEV)) as well as enhancing fuel/electric energy 
efficiency of vehicles.  
 
2. Outline of Amendment 
Regulations to be amended: Public Notice that Prescribes Details of Safety Regulations 
for Road Transport Vehicles, etc. 
Scope: Vehicles with GVW exceeding 3.5 tons (excluding those with a seating capacity of 
less than 10 passengers used exclusively for passenger use) of PEV, OVC-HEV, and 
FCV. 
- It is not applied to non-type-approval vehicles. 
- It is not applied to motor cycles (including two-wheeled vehicles with side wheels) 
Outline: The amendments introduce the test procedures of fuel/electric energy efficiency 
for heavy duty vehicles. The test procedures are based on simulation methods (the HILS 
method and the powertrain method). 
 
3. Proposed Schedule 
Date of adoption: around October, 2022 
Dates of application:   
  New vehicle type: from April, 2025 for PEV and OVC-HEV 
                  from January, 2028 for FCV 
  All new vehicle:  from April, 2027 for PEV and OVC-HEV 
               from January, 2030 for FCV 