UK launches green number plates to help identify EVs

Keep your eyes peeled for electric vehicles wearing green badged number plates, the government having given the green light from today.

The plates feature a green flash down the left-hand side, with only fully zero emission vehicles eligible. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids are therefore not allowed.

The government hopes the move will raise awareness of the growing number of zero-emission vehicles on the roads, as well as help motorists benefit from local initiatives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry into zero-emission zones.

While the plates are optional – and can be retrofitted to existing zero emission vehicles – research carried out by Nissan and YouGov found that 32 per cent of people would be more likely to buy an electric car because of that small green strip.

The news follows the government’s announcement last month to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2050. You can discover just what that means for you by clicking these blue words.