Fading New Energy License Plates Reported in Multiple Regions; Authorities Declare It Illegal

Recently, green license plates for new energy vehicles (NEVs) have been observed fading to white in multiple regions, sparking widespread online discussion. Some vehicle owners have deliberately accelerated the fading process by soaking plates in chemical solutions or exposing them to special lighting for extended periods, aiming to achieve a "stylish" black-and-white aesthetic. Traffic management authorities have clearly stated that such actions constitute intentional defacement of motor vehicle license plates, violating road traffic safety regulations, and will be subject to legal penalties including warnings or fines ranging from 20 to 200 yuan. Dedicated license plates for new energy vehicles—commonly known as "green plates"—were first piloted on December 1, 2016, and rolled out nationwide in 2018. The plates for small NEVs feature a gradient green design, with the letters "D," "A," "B," "C," and "E" denoting battery electric vehicles, while "F," "G," "H," "J," and "K" indicate non-pure electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles. Earlier this year, during the 2025 National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (the "Two Sessions"), a delegate proposed enhancing the intelligence of NEV license plates—for example, by embedding traffic information chips or adding QR codes for easy verification. The delegate also noted that the current green plates often clash aesthetically with vehicle body colors, negatively impacting overall design, and recommended launching research into optimizing plate designs and soliciting public feedback.