Electric cars to be highlighted
Zero emission cars will be easily identifiable on the road from the autumn after the government confirmed plans to mark them out with green number plates.
According to ministers “the 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 cost-free entry into zero-emission zones where those with a green number plate will be recognised as eligible.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:
“Some drivers might be attracted to a green licence plate as a badge of honour. But the goal must be for such plates to be the rule rather than the exception and that still depends on battery-powered cars becoming as cheap to buy and practical to use as petrol and diesel cars. Alongside this move ministers must decide where they stand on the long term availability of the plug-in car grant, the provision of public chargepoints – particularly rapid chargers – and a possible scrappage scheme to accelerate a turnover of the fleet.”
According to RAC Foundation analysis of DVLA data, of the 32 million or so cars currently licensed in Britain only around 250,000 are pure battery electric or plug-in hybrids.
ENDS
Contact:
Philip Gomm – Head of External Communications – RAC Foundation
[email protected] | 020 7747 3445 | 07711 776448 | 020 7389 0601 (ISDN)
Notes to editors:
The RAC Foundation is a transport policy and research organisation that explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users.
The Foundation publishes independent and authoritative research with which it promotes informed debate and advocates policy in the interest of the responsible motorist. All the Foundation’s work is available at: www.racfoundation.org