The government has announced that electric vehicles will be given green number plates to help councils implement policies that will encourage clean transport during the recovery from COVID-19.
The special number plates, which feature a green flash to the left of the vehicle’s registration number, will be rolled out from autumn 2020 to make it easier for electric and zero emission vehicles to be identified on the road.
‘Unlocking incentives’
It is hoped this will help local authorities in designing and implementing new policies to incentivise people to own and drive them, such as cheaper parking, access to bus or ‘low emission’ vehicle lanes, and free entry to Clean Air Zones.
Making the announcement on 16 June, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “A green recovery is key to helping us achieve our net zero carbon commitments while also promoting economic growth. Green number plates could unlock a number of incentives for drivers and increase awareness of cleaner vehicles on our roads, showing people that a greener transport future is within our grasp.”
Fleet managers driving electrification
A separate survey from the Energy Saving Trust and government-backed Go Ultra Low initiative has also shown that a third of UK fleet managers are expecting to electrify at least half their vehicles within the next 5 years. Respondents were particularly positive about recent revised changes to Benefit In Kind (BIK) tax for electric company cars, which fell to zero in April 2020.
“As we continue to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, there has never been a more imperative time to support the drive to mass EV [electric vehicle] adoption - one that will be both financial and socially advantageous for companies,” said Tim Anderson, head of transport at the Energy Saving Trust. “The lower Benefit in Kind rates will enable company car drivers to enjoy very low tax rates and accelerate the transition to clean transport.”
Read our blog on what to consider when going electric
