A ‘badge of honour’ which will give special privileges could be given to drivers of ultra-low emission vehicles in the next few years.
Gree plates holders could be allowed to access special bus or low emission vehicle lanes, charging bays or ultra-low-emission zones that will help them to become traffic-jam-free.
Plans under consideration by ministers would see cars, vans, and taxis making them both distinct and visible to other road others.
“To be truly effective any such initiative will need to at the same time shame the drivers of the most polluting vehicles; an electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle might sport a green plate, but the biggest gas guzzlers should have theirs branded red”, said a spokesman for the Environmental Transport Association.
London councils announced plans to ban all but the cleanest vehicles from some areas at peak times to help tackle the city’s air-pollution crisis. Only ultra-low emission vehicles will be allowed in Hackney and Islington at morning and evening peak time.
Green plates schema is already used in Norway, Canada, and China.
>Jelena Zukova
