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OWNERS of electric cars across the UK will be able to fit their vehicles with green number plates from this autumn. The move is designed to further raise the profile of battery-powered cars, and pave the way for future incentive schemes that will encourage the take-up of electric vehicles.
Rather than being a totally green number plate, EVs will have conventional white and yellow plates front and rear, but will feature a green vertical flash on the left-hand side.
The green plates are being introduced by the Department for Transport (DfT) ahead of a ban on the sale of new internal combustion-engined cars from 2035, and the UK’s aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. New cars will get the plates while existing EV owners will be able to buy them from registered plate suppliers. The green plates may require action to be taken against disreputable online suppliers, however, exposed by Auto Express in July last year (Issue 1,583).
The Department for Transport says by making electric cars stand out, local authorities will be able to more easily “design and put in place new policies to incentivise people to own and drive them”. This could include incentives such as reduced parking rates, or exemption from emission-zone charges. Ministers also hope that by increasing the visibility of EVs, future buyers will be encouraged to buy them.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Green plates could unlock a number of incentives for drivers and increase awareness of cleaner vehicles, showing people that a greener transport future is within our grasp.”