Tesla drivers in Australia have been putting cheeky messages on their number plates that fuel rivalry between EV and gas owners
- Australian Tesla owners have poked fun at the end of the ICE
- Custom license plates have revived the war between ICEs and EVs
- Not everyone was amused by the custom license plates
Published on Feb 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Tesla owners in Australia have been having a bit of fun with custom license plates poking fun at the possible end of the internal combustion engine.
The cheeky license plates have been appearing on Facebook, adding more fuel to the rivalry between EV owners and those with ICE-powered cars.
As you might expect, the license plates have had a mixed reaction.
Some have loved them and enjoyed the teasing, while others have called them unnecessary.
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Amusing plates have been seen on various Tesla models
One of the more notable license plates spotted was on a Tesla Model S sitting in traffic in Adelaide, South Australia as seen in the featured image.
The EV’s license plate read ‘RIP ICE,’ which, of course, is lamenting the passing of the internal combustion engine.
Another one, as seen in the above image, read ‘RIP FUEL’, with its owner also marking the eventual passing of combustion power.
Some felt that both license plates were justified.
One user on Facebook said it was: “Quite appropriate rego for an EV.”
Another said the license plate made a ‘fair point,’ and it was clear some EV owners were happy to see the back of the combustion engine.
However, not everyone found the plates amusing.
A good number of EV owners felt they were a little smug.
The custom license plates did not amuse some
A good number of people replied to the Facebook images with almost audible groans.
They felt it made the drivers look smug and stand out for all the wrong reasons.
One Tesla owner said: “Yeah, I prefer not to poke the bear. Too many idiots out there that hate EVs.”
“Sadly these plates just guarantee that your car will get keyed,” another said.
“I drive an EV but don’t need to drive around making smug statements. Lame,” said a third.
Australia is home to a lot of EVs, in fact, there are at least 198,000 on Australian roads, according to Yahoo.
Nearly two-thirds have been bought since 2022, showing that support for EVs has grown in the country.
So, as more and more people make the jump, we’re bound to see that rivalry grow.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
