COLUMBIA, S.C. -South Carolina is considering a proposal, still in its early stages, to switch from metal license plates to new electronic license plates, or e-tags, as a way to improve highway safety.

"It's the first of its kind," says David Findlay, co-founder of Compliance Innovations, the South Carolina company that created the e-tags. "It's not an LCD or an LED. What it's made of is electronic paper. It's a new technology that allows you to hold the image with no power whatsoever for over 10 years. The only time it needs power is when you're changing the status or the image on the plate."

That power comes from the vibrations of your car, and from a transparent film over the tag that collects solar power.

The reason e-tags should improve highway safety is because the tags would be electronically linked to the DMV, so if a driver's license has been suspended or his insurance has lapsed, the DMV would send a signal to the license plate. The word "SUSPENDED" or "UNINSURED" would appear on the license plate.

http://www.wspa.com/story/22553084/switch-to-electronic-license-plates-could-improve-sc-highway-safety