Electric Cars Could Get Green Number Plates ‘To Boost Sales’

The UK government is to hold a consultation on whether to introduce green number plates for electric cars, in a bid to create a smug-factor people want to buy into
Electric Cars Could Get Green Number Plates ‘To Boost Sales’

Electric cars in the UK could be fitted with green number plates to ‘raise awareness’ of battery-powered propulsion and help create more consumer demand.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that three options are being looked at; a totally green number plate, a green band on the left where the blue EU standard national identifier badge used to be, or a small green circle in the same place, ringed in white. Both number plates would bear the same changes, but if the band or circle are chosen, the white front and yellow rear plate design will stay.

Electric Cars Could Get Green Number Plates ‘To Boost Sales’

The idea is both to give local authorities a way of seeing which vehicles are allowed to use any special permissions like access to bus lanes, and to create an extra layer of desire among drivers to get one for themselves. Y’know, to join the special club that you’ll never truly be part of because, y’know, you didn’t buy an EV before they were cool.

Inspiration for the move comes from Canada, where EV drivers in Ontario could use all toll lanes and car-share lanes for free. The area saw an upturn in EV registrations, so it’s thought that similar incentives could work in the UK.

Electric Cars Could Get Green Number Plates ‘To Boost Sales’

The RAC isn’t too impressed, though. Its head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said:

“While the sentiment seems right, there are question marks as to whether drivers would see this as a badge of honour or alternatively it could foster resentment among existing drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles.

“On the face of it, drivers we’ve questioned don’t seem too impressed – only a fifth think it’s a good idea and the majority said the number plates wouldn’t have the effect of making them any more likely to switch to an electric vehicle.”

Pressure is mounting on the government to provide financial incentives to owners of older, more polluting cars, in a similar way to the fabulously expensive ‘scrappage’ scheme of the late 2000s. Campaigners including Friends of the Earth are pushing for it, and the RAC is right behind the idea. Mr Lyes continued:

“Given their relatively high upfront costs, only those drivers that could afford to make the switch to an electric vehicle would benefit [from bus lane incentives] – leaving the vast majority who still rely on petrol and diesel cars losing out.

“We continue to believe that the best way of encouraging drivers to ‘go electric’ is for the government to be providing the right financial incentives at the point of purchase, and investing in better charging infrastructure.”

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Comments

Robert Gracie

Its definitely a move in the right direction, I mean Japan uses different coloured licence plates for their Kei Car classification, it would only seem right that EV cars were in green

10/22/2019 - 10:17 |
2 | 2

In some US states EVs have special plates (literally just has EV as the first letters of the plate and a cute little logo) and priority parking all over the place. If anything priority parking would boost sales, especially in a town like London where parking is a hassle at best

10/22/2019 - 12:08 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In Austria that’s already a thing, electric and hybrid cars get white plates with green writing on it, instead of Black. It’s just funny then to see a Porsche Cayenne e-hybrid with green plates, next to a little VW up with a normal one. Little bit pathetic in my eyes, but seems to work here. They also get to drive faster on sections of the highway, where speed is limited due to too much emissions.

10/22/2019 - 10:36 |
8 | 1
jaffakitty

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That’s interesting, and seems a little mean on those less well off tbh-

But surely speed isn’t a problem in terms of emissions unless the gearing’s too short?

10/22/2019 - 12:28 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It’s like this in Hungary too. Electric or Hybrid cars have green licence plate. The whole licence plate is green.

10/22/2019 - 15:24 |
0 | 0
ATOGI_28

Why green tho. Imo green looks ugly and it doesn’t go with many (body) colors.
The yellow one with the green dot seems OK though.

10/22/2019 - 10:43 |
3 | 1
HORSEPOWER!

Cars r cool

10/22/2019 - 11:07 |
1 | 1
Anonymous

In Ontario EVs also get green lettered license plates

10/22/2019 - 11:13 |
0 | 0
Elliot.J99

“Hey guys look at my GREEN number plate ooooh it’s because i’m so cool and eco friendly did you also know i’m vegan and think orange man bad?????”

10/22/2019 - 11:13 |
34 | 6

Are you implying you think orange man good??

10/22/2019 - 12:09 |
9 | 8
Freddie Skeates

Ah yes, increase the snobbishness among deep-pocketed, smug EV drivers. Mr Lyes is right.

Why not spend the money on something actually constructive like super-fast chargers?

10/22/2019 - 11:14 |
10 | 0

Smart. I agree

10/22/2019 - 21:03 |
0 | 0
H4R1S_01

What an absolute joke

10/22/2019 - 12:16 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

How about no incentives and just letting the market decide?

10/22/2019 - 12:18 |
6 | 1
Anonymous

Firefighters would probably like that EVs have green license plates due to their hazardous batteries.

10/22/2019 - 13:26 |
11 | 0
AndyGreeeny

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Because petrol/diesel isn’t hazardous 😂

10/22/2019 - 13:50 |
3 | 10