MA - EV license plates

[xsi123]

I got delivery of a new leased Model 3 yesterday at the Dedham store and I just realized the registration/license plates they gave me are not EV plates.

Did they stop giving EV plates or this is a mistake? Should I call and fight this or there is really no benefit of having EV this plates?

Thoughts on how to proceed?

 

[EdA]

They run out from time to time.

 

[mswlogo]

I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. But I heard occasionally it might give you preferential treatment / discount at some places. I’ve yet to see such a place though.

 

[wcorey]

I got delivery of a new leased Model 3 yesterday at the Dedham store and I just realized the registration/license plates they gave me are not EV plates.

Did they stop giving EV plates or this is a mistake? Should I call and fight this or there is really no benefit of having EV this plates?

Thoughts on how to proceed?

To my understanding, there is no benefit to an EV plate beyond ego. At this point most everybody recognizes the Tesla T as an EV. First responders certainly recognize it as an EV.
There is no obligation for Tesla to register it as such. It probably costs more and you were charged for std registration. Again, way more pressing things to lose sleep over.

 

[ModelNforNerd]

To my understanding, there is no benefit to an EV plate beyond ego. At this point most everybody recognizes the Tesla T as an EV. First responders certainly recognize it as an EV.
There is no obligation for Tesla to register it as such. It probably costs more and you were charged for std registration. Again, way more pressing things to lose sleep over.

I kept my Veteran plate for these reasons. There is zero benefit to an EV plate, but if I happen to get pulled over for some "spirited acceleration", the Veteran plate is more likely to lighten the officer's mood. (I know this, because it happened the week after I took delivery.) LOL

 

[EdA]

EV plates cost the same as standard plates, it is like a "free" vanity plate and a badge of honor IMO.
Although the first one I ever saw was on a Lexus hybrid!

 

[HankLloydRight]

Although the first one I ever saw was on a Lexus hybrid!

I saw one on a BMW X5 and threw me for a loop!

 

[doghousePVD]

Hard to see as "badge of honor" when the nameplate is Tesla. Why would ANYONE care? Virtue signalling is pretty lame.

In RI one can get green plates for EV and hybrids. I got the regular blue ones because my car is blue.

 

[JWardell]

Yeah, the RMV needs to stop issuing EV plates to all these vehicles with a giant fossil engine and a tiny 48V glorified starter motor. Then they would have plenty left for the real EVs

 

[wcorey]

I kept my Veteran plate for these reasons. There is zero benefit to an EV plate, but if I happen to get pulled over for some "spirited acceleration", the Veteran plate is more likely to lighten the officer's mood. (I know this, because it happened the week after I took delivery.) LOL

Agreed, a Vet plate is a completely different animal!

 

[David29]

I met a Mass. State official at an EV event at Worcester Polytechnic institute a couple of years ago. I forget his name, but he works for one of the energy-related offices in the state. Anyhow, he said he was involved in creating the EV plate and that its initial purpose was to help first responders recognize vehicles that have batteries, because they have to fight any fire differently if a battery is involved, and would want to disconnect the battery in the event of a severe crash. Most likely the most common early use was for hybrids.

 

[wcorey]

I met a Mass. State official at an EV event at Worcester Polytechnic institute a couple of years ago. I forget his name, but he works for one of the energy-related offices in the state. Anyhow, he said he was involved in creating the EV plate and that its initial purpose was to help first responders recognize vehicles that have batteries, because they have to fight any fire differently if a battery is involved, and would want to disconnect the battery in the event of a severe crash. Most likely the most common early use was for hybrids.

Tesla and other EV manufacturers provide documentation to first responders on where, under the body high voltage is and what needs to be severed. Prior to the Model 3 seeing a Tesla was incredibly rare.

 

[srs5694]

I met a Mass. State official at an EV event at Worcester Polytechnic institute a couple of years ago. I forget his name, but he works for one of the energy-related offices in the state. Anyhow, he said he was involved in creating the EV plate and that its initial purpose was to help first responders recognize vehicles that have batteries, because they have to fight any fire differently if a battery is involved, and would want to disconnect the battery in the event of a severe crash. Most likely the most common early use was for hybrids.

I heard a similar claim at an EV event in Rhode Island in 2016. I'd expect this tip-off to first responders would be more important for a Kia, Ford, VW, etc., than for a Tesla, since I'd expect most first responders would know that a Tesla is an EV, with or without the EV plate; whereas other manufacturers' EVs are usually less distinctive. Since they're often compliance cars built on the same platform as ICE vehicles, it'd be easy for a first responder to mistakenly think that, say, a Kia Niro EV is an ICE vehicle.

That said, when I registered my Model 3, I did explicitly ask for an EV plate, just to provide whatever tiny extra bit of safety that might give first responders. I don't think I'd bother replacing a regular plate with an EV plate, though; there's probably more risk of an accident from an extra trip to the DMV than that a first responder wouldn't recognize a Tesla as an EV.

 

[wcorey]

I heard a similar claim at an EV event in Rhode Island in 2016. I'd expect this tip-off to first responders would be more important for a Kia, Ford, VW, etc., than for a Tesla, since I'd expect most first responders would know that a Tesla is an EV, with or without the EV plate; whereas other manufacturers' EVs are usually less distinctive. Since they're often compliance cars built on the same platform as ICE vehicles, it'd be easy for a first responder to mistakenly think that, say, a Kia Niro EV is an ICE vehicle.

That said, when I registered my Model 3, I did explicitly ask for an EV plate, just to provide whatever tiny extra bit of safety that might give first responders. I don't think I'd bother replacing a regular plate with an EV plate, though; there's probably more risk of an accident from an extra trip to the DMV than that a first responder wouldn't recognize a Tesla as an EV.

True, keep in mind though in 2016 seeing a Tesla was a rare event. There were more UFO sightings that Model S sightings.

We've had Prius' since 2005. Never an EV plate. I don't even believe MA had them then, we were in MA at that time, moved to CT in 2014. I did grow up in RI though.

 

[ScoGold]

Is it possible to get an EV vanity plate in Massachusetts? If so, what’s the process for ordering to be placed on a new M3 I’m picking up this month.

 

[mswlogo]

It’s not something you “order”. My first one Tesla just automatically gave me when they registered the car at pickup. 2nd one was a car I registered at DMV and they asked which one I wanted. Next Tesla they didn’t ask and didn’t give me one. But I prefer the plate they gave me. It has an M an X and a 7 in it. I have a 7 seat Model X.

Not 100% sure EV are still being issued. You can try calling SC and ask if they can still issue them. They don’t really gain you anything. You could also try calling DMV.

 

[Ron_M3]

I looked into this a few months back and I don't believe the RMV was giving out EV plates at the time, most likely due to the reduction in services during the pandemic. It's possible this has changed.