The special plates, which are already used by countries
like Norway, Canada, and China, could be available on
green vehicles like electric and hydrogen cars, and are
thought to encourage take-up among drivers.
As well as promoting zero emission vehicles, green
number plates could help support local incentives for
electric vehicles such as access to bus or low emission
vehicle lanes, electric charging bays or
ultra-low-emission-zones.
The plans are part of a forthcoming government
consultation announced today (9 September 2018) which
will seek views on whether green plates could work in
the UK, and if so, what they should look like.
The consultation could pave the way for the addition of
the eye-catching plates to UK vehicles in the next few
years.
It comes ahead of the UK hosting the world’s
first Zero Emission
Vehicle Summit this week, where nations from
around the world will come together to agree to support
the development of and acceleration in uptake of green
vehicles
, Transport
Secretary, said:
The UK has a proud history of leading the world in
technological advances and that is no different for
ultra low emission vehicles, where we are at the
forefront of innovation and testing.
This new cleaner, greener transport has the potential
to bring with it cleaner air, a better environment
and stronger economies for countries around the
world.
Adding a green badge of honour to these new clean
vehicles is a brilliant way of helping increase
awareness of their growing popularity in the UK, and
might just encourage people to think about how one
could fit into their own travel routine.
Elisabeth Costa, Director at The Behavioural Insights
Team, said:
We support efforts to increase awareness of the
numbers of clean vehicles on our roads. Simple
changes based on behavioural science can have a big
impact.
Green plates would be more noticeable to road users,
and this increased attraction can help normalise the
idea of clean vehicles, highlighting the changing
social norms around vehicle ownership.
The consultation will consider potential designs for
the plates, which could include entirely green on the
front, back or both sides of the vehicle, or a green
symbol.
The Prime Minister
originally announced that the UK would host the Zero
Emission Vehicle Summit earlier this year and
will deliver an
address at the event on Tuesday (11 September 2018).
The summit will be taking place in Birmingham and
Buckinghamshire on 11 and 12 September, bringing
together nations from across the globe to pledge
collective action towards zero emission journeys and
showcase how the UK is one of the best places in the
world for zero-emission innovation.
The work is all part of the government’s Future of
Mobility Grand Challenge, outlined in its modern
Industrial Strategy, aiming to help reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, make travel safer, improve
accessibility, and present enormous economic
opportunities for the UK.
The Zero Emission Vehicle Summit follows
the Road to Zero
strategy which was published earlier this
summer and outlines the government’s ambition to lead
the world in the development and manufacturing of zero
emission vehicles.
