The UK government wants to increase sales of ultra-low-emission vehicles by offering special number plates and advantages for EV drivers.
The initiative is designed to make it easier for civic authorities to give eco-friendly vehicles preferential treatment, such as allowing them to drive in bus lanes and use special parking spaces.
Other countries such as Canada have adopted similar initiatives. For example, in Ontario, drivers of hybrid and electric vehicles have received special green plates for the past decade.
Norway has taken this a step further by prefixing all registration numbers for battery-powered cars with an ‘E’ to make them instantly identifiable and easier to park them in EV-only parking spaces.
The UK government is also promoting the use of EVs via other means, such as offering a £3,500 subsidy for all-electric vehicles and by investing £70m into doubling the number of charging points in the UK.
An Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was also launched in central London in April, which taxes drivers of more-polluting vehicles £80 – a cost that doubles if not paid within two weeks.
Since the ULEZ was introduced, pollution in the controlled area has fallen by over a third. The zone is to be expanded in 2021.
