The creation of digital license plates has long been an idea in the United States. In fact, one company called Reviver went as far as developing the technology in 2009. The problem, though, is that it is costly for both manufacturers and consumers.
Fast forward to today, there are two states in the US that have approved the use of digital license plates: California and Arizona. It took more than a decade for this progress, but it looks like things are turning out for the better for Reviver.
According to its founder and chief strategy officer Neville Boston, the company’s digital Rplates will soon be available in the state of Michigan. In an interview with online publication Car and Driver, Boston shared that his team had met with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson at an auto show a while back, where they discussed the approval of non-traditional plates.
With legislation out of the way, all that’s needed is the integration of the Rplates with the systems and databases. This process requires turning the letters and numbers on the license plate into pixels on a digital ink screen that will then allow people to display pre-approved messages.
Aside from being able to flash digital messages, these license plates can also send Amber or Silver alerts or warn people in case a vehicle has been stolen. However, Boston said it still depends on the state if they want this functionality.
When using the digital license plates, car owners will have to pay their registration fees through Reviver, making annual renewals less of a hassle.
“You own the plate, but the message and plate number are owned by the state,” Boston said. “Think about it as a digital display until it’s actually activated and provisioned, and then it becomes a compliance tool.”
A basic Rplate costs $499 for the screen with a five-year battery plus a $55 annual subscription (or $4.99 a month). There is also an option for $17.95 a month for a 36-month duration. The wired Rplate Pro, on the other hand, costs $599 for the screen and $75 a year or $6.99 a month. A 36-month option will set customers back by $24.95 a month, exclusive of the installation fee. The Pro offers a built-in GPS system.
Following its approval in California, Arizona, and Michigan, the next states that are likely to adopt the technology are Georgia and Texas.
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