EV owners get to vote on new licence plate designs that flag electric cars to first responders

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) announced on 24 September 2026 that owners of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can vote on a new, distinct licence plate design for their vehicles.

The two agencies plan to introduce differentiated plates so that first responders and the public can spot an EV quickly. LTA said EVs pose particular safety considerations in an accident or fire, and recognising one at a glance helps people at the scene respond appropriately, for example by keeping a safe distance from a damaged battery.

The idea has been through one round of consultation already. In March 2026, LTA and SCDF asked authorised motor dealers, signcraft workshops and individual motorists for views on three green plate designs. Respondents accepted the need for a different plate, but some disliked how the green versions looked. The agencies then studied other options. Some were ruled out because they made the number harder to read. A coloured side band, for instance, would force a smaller font and would not work on double-row plates.

The poll offers three choices: one of the original green designs and two new designs in different shades of blue, which LTA says are visible in daylight and low light and work with traffic and enforcement cameras. Voting runs on the OneMotoring website from 25 September to 9 October 2026, through a FormSG link that requires Singpass login.

Only votes from registered EV and PHEV owners will count. Each owner, individual or company, gets one vote, and only the last vote is counted if someone votes more than once. People who own vehicles both personally and through a company can vote once in each capacity.

For fleet owners: companies running electric vans, cars or light trucks are eligible to vote in their company capacity. Once a design is chosen, operators should also expect to plan for plate replacements across their EV fleet, although LTA has not yet given a timeline or said how the change will be rolled out.

Source: Land Transport Authority — Read the original