Green number plates for clean vehicles have hit UK roads

Green number plates for clean vehicles have hit UK roads

Dec 21, 2020

The UK’s first green number plates have hit the roads as the country prepares to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the 2050 net zero commitment. The introduction of the new plates builds on the government’s announcement last month to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK by 2030.

The UK’s first green number plates have hit the roads as the country prepares to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as part of the 2050 net zero commitment. The introduction of the new plates builds on the government’s announcement last month to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK by 2030.

Raising awareness

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean announcement the introduction of the new plates, that will be identifiable by a green flash on the left-hand side and will help raise awareness of the cleaner vehicles on the road.

Ms. Maclean said: “We are going further and faster than any other major economy to decarbonise transport, improving air quality in our towns and cities in the process and harnessing the power of clean, green technology to end the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050.

Incentives for drivers

The green number plates, which can be combined with the Union flag and national identifiers already permitted by the regulations, will help drivers benefit from local initiatives such as cheaper parking and cost-free entry into zero-emission zones.

Ms. Maclean said: “Not only will green number plates raise awareness of the increasing number of cleaner vehicles on our roads, they could also unlock a number of incentives for drivers. It’s clear there has never been a better time to make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle.”

British Gas Business Solutions

At British Gas Business, we offer workplace electric charging enabling businesses to go green. We’re EV installation experts having installed over 3,500 commercial electric vehicle charging points, including helping two Honda dealerships prepare for the arrival of their new electric range. Find out more about our workplace electric charging points and how your business can benefit by making the transition to electric below.

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Balancing planet and profit during unprecedented market volatility

06 Jul, 2022

Balancing planet and profit during unprecedented market volatility

Why are energy prices high compared to a year ago?

By Vander Caceres • 14 Jun, 2022

Wholesale energy prices have experienced unprecedented levels of volatility since the end of summer 2021, with both day ahead/spot and future contracts surging to all-time highs. In the last couple of months, prices have decreased but still remain high compared to a year ago. This period of high energy prices is expected to continue for the foreseeable future (see next section). Energy prices have surged for a number of reasons: A global increase in gas demand following the ease or end of Covid-related restrictions throughout 2021. After the pandemic, economies across the world started to recover. Asian countries like China saw their imports of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) increase. This resulted in lower LNG shipments to the UK and Europe. On the supply side, the Covid-19 lockdowns pushed some maintenance work from 2020 into 2021 at a time when demand was recovering. In 2021, gas production hit a record low of 363TWh, 47TWh below the previous record low in 2013. Low production was the result of an extensive summer maintenance schedule which saw shutdowns at several major terminals, as well as the Forties Pipeline System which serves a significant proportion of UK gas and oil production. A lack of wind in the summer resulted in higher demand for conventional power. European gas storage in 2021 and Q1’22 remained far below previous years and it’s unclear how these are going to be replenished in the summer given the concerns around supply including the potential suspension of Russian gas flows due to sanctions. The 1,234km offshore Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was designed to double the flow of gas between Russia and Germany (and by extension the rest of Europe) has been abandoned following the invasion of Ukraine. Gas storage in the UK is extremely minimal with capacity at less than 2% of the UK’s annual demand, compared with 22% for other European countries. Whilst the UK is not heavily reliant on gas coming from Russia, it sources almost half it’s gas supply from Europe. Hence, wholesale gas and power prices in the UK are now subject to knock-on-effects from the conflict in Ukraine.

What does volatility mean for your journey to net zero?

20 May, 2022

Amidst rising energy costs, digitalisation, growing pressure from stakeholders and increasing regulation, organisations may struggle to define their pathway to a low-carbon future. What can you do to protect your business’ net zero plans from the challenges of volatility? Disruption and volatility are putting organisations under pressure. Digitalisation and new technology developments continue to challenge existing business models. Its increasing dependence on energy and encouraging businesses to drive change to secure competitive advantage. And as customers, employees and shareholders look to engage with companies who understand the importance of decarbonisation, pressure is mounting to prioritise sustainability.

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