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New electric cars registered from 1 September will be the first to feature a green strip on their number plates, which will also bear the new 70-plate format.
To mark the arrival of the new design, Nissan has posted images of the green plates being fitted to a Leaf at once of its dealerships.
The green strip for EV number plates was announced in June by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in order to both 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 fully green plate, EVs will have conventional white and yellow plates on their front and rear, but the plates will feature a green vertical flash on their left-hand side.
The green plates are being spearheaded by the Department for Transport (DfT) ahead of a ban on the sale of all new internal-combustion engined cars from 2035, and the UK’s aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
The plates will make it easier to identify electric cars, enabling local authorities to design and implement new policies that will encourage more people into them, such as cheaper parking and free entry into clean air zones.
London’s Congestion Charge Zone already grants free access to the Capital’s central district for owners of EVs, using data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to determine if a car is battery powered, and therefore exempt from the charges.
But, even if future clean air zones rely on the same DVLA data rather than green flashes on number plates, ministers may hope that by increasing the prominence of EVs, future car buyers may be nudged into the electric revolution, the green plates acting as something of a badge of virtue.
The move to introduce green number plates followed a consultation launched late last year, with the proposals inspired by a scheme in Ontario, Canada. The Canadian programme sees EV and plug-in hybrid drivers given free access to toll lanes and car-pool lanes, even if only one person is in the car, and has led to an increase in EV purchases.
Concerns have been raised over privacy, though, with fears the plates could make further use of the UK’s vast network of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The Government’s independent Surveillance Camera Commissioner previously warned green number plates could lead to “an unqualified extension to the role of ANPR”, a network that makes at least 10 billion number plate scans a year, and issues around £100 million in fines annually.
Announcing the green EV number plates back in June, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “A green recovery is key to helping us achieve our net zero carbon commitments while also promoting economic growth.
“Green number plates could unlock a number of incentives for drivers and increase awareness of cleaner vehicles on our roads, showing people that a greener transport future is within our grasp.”
At the same time, the DfT also announced a further £12 million in funding for research into EVs and hydrogen cars, relating both to propulsion systems and infrastructure, money the Transport Secretary says will help UK firms “remain at the forefront of low carbon innovation and research.’’ A further £2 million will be made available for small and medium-sized businesses working on zero-emission research.
Commenting on green plates, Edmund King, AA president, said: “Having a green flash on the number plate may become a badge of honour for some drivers. We support this concept which shows that the EV revolution is now moving from amber to green.”
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To mark the arrival of the new design, Nissan has posted images of the green plates being fitted to a Leaf at once of its dealerships.
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The green strip for EV number plates was announced in June by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in order to both 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 fully green plate, EVs will have conventional white and yellow plates on their front and rear, but the plates will feature a green vertical flash on their left-hand side.
The green plates are being spearheaded by the Department for Transport (DfT) ahead of a ban on the sale of all new internal-combustion engined cars from 2035, and the UK’s aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
The plates will make it easier to identify electric cars, enabling local authorities to design and implement new policies that will encourage more people into them, such as cheaper parking and free entry into clean air zones.
London’s Congestion Charge Zone already grants free access to the Capital’s central district for owners of EVs, using data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to determine if a car is battery powered, and therefore exempt from the charges.
But, even if future clean air zones rely on the same DVLA data rather than green flashes on number plates, ministers may hope that by increasing the prominence of EVs, future car buyers may be nudged into the electric revolution, the green plates acting as something of a badge of virtue.
The move to introduce green number plates followed a consultation launched late last year, with the proposals inspired by a scheme in Ontario, Canada. The Canadian programme sees EV and plug-in hybrid drivers given free access to toll lanes and car-pool lanes, even if only one person is in the car, and has led to an increase in EV purchases.
Concerns have been raised over privacy, though, with fears the plates could make further use of the UK’s vast network of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The Government’s independent Surveillance Camera Commissioner previously warned green number plates could lead to “an unqualified extension to the role of ANPR”, a network that makes at least 10 billion number plate scans a year, and issues around £100 million in fines annually.
Announcing the green EV number plates back in June, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “A green recovery is key to helping us achieve our net zero carbon commitments while also promoting economic growth.
“Green number plates could unlock a number of incentives for drivers and increase awareness of cleaner vehicles on our roads, showing people that a greener transport future is within our grasp.”
At the same time, the DfT also announced a further £12 million in funding for research into EVs and hydrogen cars, relating both to propulsion systems and infrastructure, money the Transport Secretary says will help UK firms “remain at the forefront of low carbon innovation and research.’’ A further £2 million will be made available for small and medium-sized businesses working on zero-emission research.
Commenting on green plates, Edmund King, AA president, said: “Having a green flash on the number plate may become a badge of honour for some drivers. We support this concept which shows that the EV revolution is now moving from amber to green.”
Click here for our gallery of the best electric cars you can buy right now...
Does the electric car thing very well indeed with a unique design and advanced technology.
Impressive real-world range and practicality make the Kia easy to recommend.
The first fully fledged electric offering from Mercedes is a mix of existing and new technology and design.
Groundbreaking at launch and still one of the best electric cars you can buy.
Sharing battery tech with the excellent e-Niro in a more stylish if slightly less practical package.
A well equipped and reasonably priced, zero emissions supermini.
image
image
image
A well judged entrance into the world of luxurious, electric transportation.
Looking to drive around emissions-free? These electric cars may tempt you...
Continue reading...