Green number plates will be seen on roads for the first time from today, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean has announced.
The new green plates will make it easier for cars to be identified as zero emission vehicles, helping local authorities design and put in place new policies to incentivise people to own and drive them.
For example, drivers could benefit from local initiatives such as cheaper parking and free entry into zero-emission zones.
Transport Minister commented on the announcement: “We are going further and faster than any other major economy to decarbonise transport, improving air quality in our towns and cities in the process and harnessing the power of clean, green technology to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050.
“Not only will green number plates raise awareness of the increasing number of cleaner vehicles on our roads, they could also unlock a number of incentives for drivers.
“It’s clear there has never been a better time to make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle.”
Last month, the government announced that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will end in the UK by 2030.
The new number plates can be retro-fitted to any existing vehicles, including cars, vans, buses, HGVs, taxis and motorcycles as long as they emit no CO2 emissions at the tailpipe.
They will consist of a green flash on the left-hand side of the plate and can be combined with the Union flag and national identifiers already permitted by the regulations.
The move follows a consultation, which invited comments from the public, local authorities and industry stakeholders from a range of sectors including motoring and consumer groups and vehicle manufacturers, on how best to introduce green number plates.
The introduction of the new plates follows the first-ever meeting of ministers from the world’s largest car markets last month, to form a new Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council.
Hosted by the Business Secretary and the Transport Secretary, the council aims to help boost the pace of the global transition, with further council meetings to take place in 2021.
Last month, the government also announced that the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), the government unit responsible for overseeing the transition to zero-emission cars and vans, was going to be renamed as The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
