In a bid to boost the number of zero-emission vehicles running on its roads, the UK government has come up with a smart incentive to get its drivers to switch to cleaner cars: rewarding them with special license plates.

The green license plates identifying electric vehicles are actually green in color and will be rolled out in Britain this autumn as lawmakers continue their efforts to encourage drivers away from gasoline and diesel fueled cars

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that the new number plates would have a “green flash” on their left-hand side and only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to use them.

The overarching idea is to make these types of vehicles easier to spot on the road, which would in turn help “local authorities design and put in place new policies to incentivize people to own and drive them.” This could take the form of cheaper parking and free entry into zero-emission areas, the government said. Seeing more electric cars on the road could also persuade drivers who are on the fence make the jump to electric.

Alongside the license plate roll-out, the government has also allocated $15.18 million in funding for research relating to green vehicles and charging technology. Both initiatives are part of a wider plan to drive a green economic recovery from the pandemic.

Although small, this is a great solution for raising awareness about the feasibility and benefits of electric vehicles!