Green number plates for zero emission vehicles?

The Government has launched a public consultation on introducing green number plates to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.

Through the introduction of green number plates, local authorities would have a useful visual identifier should they wish to introduce incentives to promote the use of zero emission vehicles, such as allowing these drivers to use bus lanes and to pay less for parking.  

When a similar scheme was trialled in Ontario, with drivers of electric vehicles given free access to toll lanes and high occupancy vehicle lanes, electric vehicle registrations increased.

Potential designs include:

• A fully green number plate with black lettering


• The addition of a green flash on the plate


• The addition of a green dot or symbol

“Green number plates are a really positive and exciting way to help everyone recognise the increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads,” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.  “By increasing awareness of these vehicles and the benefits they bring to their drivers and our environment, we will turbo-charge the zero emission revolution.”

Elisabeth Costa, Senior Director at the Behavioural Insights Team, added: “The number of clean vehicles on our roads is increasing, but we don’t notice as it’s difficult to tell clean vehicles apart from more polluting ones.  Green number plates make these vehicles, and our decision to drive in a more environmentally-friendly way, more visible on roads.  We think making the changing social norm noticeable will help encourage more of us to swap our cars for cleaner options.”