Design Life-Cycle

Leslie Navarro

Katie Castro, Kaitlin Pulido

DES 040A

Research Paper

Raw Materials of the License Plate

If you are someone who is familiar with cars or has driven one, you are most definitely familiar with the license plate. The license plate is a 12x6 piece of aluminum sheet engraved with 7 characters, each plate with their own unique combination of characters. These plates are placed in front and behind each vehicle, used to distinguish each car from each other. Throughout the production, distribution and recycle cycle of the license plate, various raw materials, energy and waste are used and created. This section will focus on the various raw materials that are used in the life cycle of the license plate, with a more detailed explanation on the manufacturing process in the US.. These materials include a combination of aluminum, inks and dyes and different plastics and so on to create a single license plate. Various different raw materials are used throughout the six stages of the design life cycle.

History of License Plates

The history of license plates manufacturing starts back in the early 1900s, back when the automobile was first created in the United States. In 1903, the state of Massachusetts issued its first state issued license plates. These plates were made out of iron and covered with porcelain enamel. As more people started to own their own automobiles and vehicles, states across the nation started to create standardized design and materials. Slowly by the 1920s, states transitioned to metal plates that were stamped due to their high durability. However during World War II, metal shortages arose leading some states to experiment with alternative materials such as fiberboard and soybean-based plastics. Later on in the 1950s, materials such as those that are reflective were added, transitioning into the iconic design and finish we know today. In modern day, license plate manufacturing is often done by the labor of prison inmates with facilities located in Folsom State prison in California and Auburn Correctional Facility in New York. Today’s plates are made from aluminum and include advanced technology such as digital printing and security, preventing counterfeits from being produced.

Different Types of License Plate Materials

There are many different types of license materials that are used today, all with their various conditions and attributes. There are license plates made out of polystyrene plastic, polyethylene plastic and finally aluminum plates. Out of the three different types, polystyrene plastic is the cheapest option due to its life span. If you are ever shopping around for license plates and the material isn’t stated or is very cheap, it is most likely it's made out of polystyrene plastic. They are the least durable out of the three due to the fact that they are less durable than those made from other materials. Polystyrene plastic plates are also more likely to curl and wrap easily, which causes their shape to slowly deform. In addition, due to their polystyrene material, yellowing takes place with their constant exposure to the sun. Yellowing leads to a discoloration in the plate, turning it visually unappealing. For these reasons, the polystyrene plate is the cheapest and best option short term. On the other hand, are license plates made out of polyethylene plastic. Polyethylene plates are slightly more expensive than those made out of polystyrene plastic, however are more durable having a life span of up to 5 years. Unlike polystyrene plates, they do not yellow and won't crack or break. This makes them more durable than their fellow plastic counterparts. However, it's important to note that both polystyrene and polyethylene options are cheaper options than those made from aluminum. Reason being is because both plastic options are meant to be short term options. They are both cheaper upfront, however in the long run, they demand to be replaced more often than those made from aluminum. The most common license plates being manufactured today are those made out of aluminum metal. Anytime you see or come across a license plate, it is most likely to be made out of aluminum, sometimes even recycled aluminum materials. Aluminum license plates are known to be most expensive upfront, as they are more costly and high quality than those made from plastic. However, due to their quality and material, they are known to be the most efficient in the long run. License plates made from aluminum are known to not yellow, crack, curl, wrap or break, as license plates made from plastic normally would. Visually, they are also the better option between the three types of license plates. The inks that are used in aluminum plates allow them to have a life span of 5-7 years, even longer depending on the quality of ink used. Another characteristic that is added to their appearance is the surface. Compared to plastic alternatives, aluminum plates have a glossy finish which contributes to their better appearance creating a glossy surface.

Raw Materials Acquisition, Manufacturing Processing and Formulation

In the US, license plates are manufactured using aluminum. As stated in the previous paragraph, one can choose to make their plate out of polystyrene or polythene plastic. However, most plates are made out of aluminum, which is found to have the most benefits out of the three. In order to start that manufacturing process, the materials needed are the aluminum or plastic of choice and reflective plastic sheeting. These raw materials are then used in the manufacturing process. In the first stage of the manufacturing process, metal is attached to the sheeting. In this stage, it is determined which type of license plate will be made (standard or special interest). The metal/plastic is cut to size and is blanked out, revealing its outline. After being done multiple times and in batches, the blank plates are separated and distributed to different pressing shops. In these shops, they are then assigned the type of character configuration they will be given. Each license plate has their own and unique combination of letters, meaning no two plates are the same. In these shops, their configuration will be decided and each plate has their specific characters punched into the metal/plastic. After being molded, they are taken to their final step where they will be dyed. Here, different types of inks, paints, and dyes are used to bring color to the plate. The characters are finally printed and are coated with long lasting pigments. After coated with pigments, they then are finished with a clear coat which gives them maximum protection and visual attractiveness. After all those steps, the license plate is complete and is ready to be used.

Distribution.Transportation, Use, Re-use and Maintenance, Recycling, Waste

The use of raw materials in the distribution and transportation, use and maintenance, recycling and waste stages of the design life cycle plays a crucial part in the long term efficiency and sustainability of the license plate. When being transported and distributed, the lightweight and durable aluminum materials allow shorten shipping costs and fuels. However, when being transported, vehicles that are used to transport batches of plates often require fossil fuels such as gasoline, oil, natural gas and diesel. Also in this phase, the high quality inks and coating used in manufacturing process allows for long-term durability and use, decreasing the need for replacements. Re-use and maintenance are done by owners and can include robust strategies to extend the lifespan of a license plate. Recycling is encouraging when disposing of the license plate, as it decreases the carbon footprint of metal manufacturers by 95%. The removal of coatings and inks allow for the virgin materials to be reused for future plates. Finally, waste management is enhanced by designing plates with recyclable materials, contributing little to landfill and aims for a higher sustainable economy. Overall, the selection and use of raw material selection plays an important role in the overall design life cycle of the license plate.

Ultimately, the utilization and collection of raw materials plays an important role in the design life cycle of the license plate, specifically in the manufacturing and acquisition stages. From the initial choice of high quality aluminum or plastic, to the reflective sheeting, coatings and inks, each material contributes to the overall final finished product. By taking into consideration conditions such as recycled materials, durability and eco-friendly materials, manufacturers and users can take into consideration their carbon footprint in deciding what methods should be used when disposing of license plates. Manufacturers can also take into account the type of materials and methods to be used in the process and be more aware of the environmental consequences that come with producing and distributing license plates. We as a collective society can also take into account the way we use and dispose of license plates, and the ways it affects our environmental health as a whole.

Works Cited

1. Alabama Department of Revenue. "Alabama Upgrades License Plate Production Technology." 10 Oct. 2006, www.revenue.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DigitalTag.pdf.

2. "Aluminum vs. Plastic License Plates: What You Need to Know." Leeward Pro, www.leewardpro.com/articles/alumvsplast/index.html. Accessed 3 May 2024.

3. Heise, Sarah. "See How Folsom Prison Inmates Churn out 50k CA License Plates a Day." KCRA, 7 Dec. 2020, www.kcra.com/article/see-how-folsom-prison-inmates-churn-out-50k-ca-license-plates-a-day/18785621#:~:text=HOW%20LICENSE%20PLATES%20ARE%20MADE,of%20the%20aluminum%20each%20day.

4. "The History of Car License Plates for Those with Careers in the Auto Industry." Auto Mechanic Training School | Automotive Training Centre, 30 Sept. 2020, www.autotrainingcentre.com/blog/history-car-license-plates-careers-auto-industry/.

5. Homer, Talon. "The Long Strange History of License Plates in the U.S." HowStuffWorks, 6 Oct. 2022, auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/cost-of-car-ownership/history-license-plates-in-us.htm.

6. "Wheels for Wishes." *What Do I Do With Old License Plates In California?*, 23 May 2021, www.wheelsforwishes.org/news/what-do-i-do-with-old-license-plates-in-california/.

7. Platemeister. "License Plate Manufacturing." License Plate History, 9 Jan. 2024, www.licenseplates.tv/blog/license-plate-manufacturing.

8. "Take a Look at How License Plates Are Made." Arizona Department of Transportation, 30 May 2012, azdot.gov/blog-article/take-look-how-license-plates-are-made.

9. Various Authors. "License Plate." Made How, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/License-Plate.html. Accessed 3 May 2024.

10. California Department of Motor Vehicles. "The History of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)." California DMV, www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/about-the-california-department-of-motor-vehicles/the-history-of-the-department-of-motor-vehicles-dmv/. Accessed 5 June 2024.

Kaitlin Pulido

Katie Castro, Leslie Navarro

DES 40A A08

Professor Cogdell

6/5/2024

Embodied Energy of a License Plate 

In today’s society, motorized vehicles have become the most prevalent and efficient method of transportation. However, the abundance of these vehicles raises the question of how to effectively keep track of them all. License plates offer a solution to this issue. A license plate, consisting of a sequence of seven numbers and letters, is issued to legally registered vehicles and serves as a vital form of identification and regulation for safety purposes. Despite its prevalence in our daily lives, many individuals, myself included, may be unaware of the energy involved in the life cycle of license plates. Through research, I have discovered that the energy entailed in the life cycle of a license plate includes the extraction of raw materials such as metals, manufacturing and processing into sheets, distribution and transportation via delivery trucks, and waste disposal through recycling. This research paper aims to explore the labor and energy consumption associated with each stage of the life cycle of a license plate. 

License plates today consist primarily of “[aluminum sheets], preprinted and colored reflective and adhesive sheeting, and paint” (“License Plate”). In 2016, more than 50 million tons of aluminum were produced globally for their increased use in lightweight engineering structures. Aluminum, an abundant, lightweight material, is extracted from bauxite, a type of clay rock that serves as the primary source of aluminum ore. The extraction process involves three key stages: the Bayer Process, anode manufacturing, and the Hall-Héroult process (Alamdari). The Bayer process converts bauxite into alumina by mechanically crushing the bauxite ore and mixing it with caustic soda. It is then processed in a grinding mill to produce a watery mixture that is heated to 23–520°F and put under intense pressure to dissolve any aluminum-containing compounds. The resulting sodium aluminate solution is then put through flash and settling tanks to allow any impurities to settle and separate into a byproduct known as “red mud”. The other half of the solution, which is clear, is filtered and transferred to a heated kiln to remove any remaining water, resulting in pure alumina (“Aluminum”). In the anode manufacturing process, carbon anodes are produced. These anodes play a crucial role in the Hall-Héroult process, where electrochemical reactions occur in electrolysis cells to convert the alumina into aluminum metal. The next essential component that goes into license plate manufacturing is paint. Paint can be made from a variety of materials, including both natural and synthetic substances from such as minerals, plants, animals, or chemicals. Regardless of their source, the extracted pigment particles must be stabilized through processes like wetting and separation of primary pigment particles from aggregates and contaminants like gases and moisture. Wetting breaks down any agglomerates or clusters of particles, allowing the pigments to evenly disperse and be mixed throughout the paint itself. This process ensures achieving a uniform color and consistency in the finished product (Lambourne 286). The reflective and adhesive coating on license plates is made of ultra-fine glass beads that have the ability to bend and refract light at a higher brightness than paint alone. Although specific information regarding the energy requirements for producing this coating is not readily available, it can be inferred that it would be a time-consuming process to prepare the base material, apply the reflective coating to the plates, and then allow the coating to be treated and cured to ensure maximum durability. These intricate processes highlight the energy needed to extract and produce materials needed to make a license plate. 

After the base materials have been acquired, they are then sent to be manufactured into license plates. These factories are located in correctional facilities and employ inmate labor. Folsom State Prison, in particular, is the sole manufacturer of California state license plates. Operating with a workforce of over one hundred and twenty inmates, the factory runs eight hours per day, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday (Heise). On an average day, 45,000 license plates are produced due to new cars being manufactured and providing replacement plates for customers who may have lost theirs. The inmates process around 15,000 pounds of aluminum and 27,000 feet of sheeting daily, going through about thirteen coils of aluminum, each weighing about 800 pounds (“California license plate numbers are running out!”). To make a license plate, a metal aluminum blank must first be prepared to serve as the base. A preprinted sheet containing color, reflective, and adhesive material is then securely applied to the metal blank, which is stamped to create the raised characters of the seven-character sequence. Once the characters are raised, they are then colored with paint so that they are visible through the reflective material, and a clear, protective coating is also applied to ensure its durability and maintain the reflectivity of the sheeting (“License Plate”). Once the sheeting is adhered to the metal, the plates are cut and loaded onto carts for transportation to various presses within the facility. Inmates manage each press that punches the number-letter sequence on the plates and reload the carts to take the plates to the dye station, where the characters are painted. Finally, each license plate is inspected by the inmates to ensure flawless quality. If any issues are found, the plates are added to a redo list, and the license plate is completely remade. The finished license plates are then shipped to the recipient address, typically a customer’s home or a DMV (Heise). This elaborate process highlights the immense effort and energy devoted to making each license plate through meticulous coordination and labor.

  From the manufacturing factories, license plates are transported to their destinations via delivery services such as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). With a fleet of 143,000 vehicles known as Grumman Long-Life Vehicles (LLVs), USPS manages mail delivery, covering a total distance of more than 1 billion miles per year and consuming over 110 million gallons of fuel. These vehicles undergo mail routes consisting of frequent stops and starts, accumulating about twenty-five miles each day. While LLVs are predominantly used, USPS has also experimented with various alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and alternative vehicles such as electric vehicles (EVs) in an effort to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Additionally, significant labor and time is invested in training new drivers to ensure that they feel comfortable and confident operating these vehicles, which may potentially transition to different fuel sources or electric power (Dinh 1). The search for alternative fuel sources while also meeting daily delivery standards demonstrates the substantial amount of energy needed to transport mail, including license plates.

Once customers receive their license plates, no further energy is necessary to make the license plate operate apart from the mechanical energy required for installation and removal. In addition to this, license plates generate little waste and are able to be recycled, sold, or returned to a DMV. Some individuals even decide to keep their old plates as a souvenir. If a customer decides to discard and recycle their plate, it is transported to a recycling center where it must first be defaced or cut to make it unusable (Gray). Then, at the recycling facility, the plate, along with other recyclables, undergo sorting, cleaning to eliminate contaminants, and preparation for transport to either a milling facility or directly to a manufacturing facility (“U.S. Recycling System”). These disposal methods must be carefully managed to prevent reuse and proper processing.

The life cycle of a license plate reveals the extensive energy and labor invested in their production, distribution, and disposal processes. License plates serve as a crucial form of vehicle identification and regulation, contributing to the efficiency and safety associated with this method of transportation. From the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing within correctional facilities, each step of the process requires careful coordination and significant effort. Making license plates is a labor-intensive process, which is clearly demonstrated by the use of inmate labor in correctional facilities where inmate labor is utilized. Furthermore, transporting license plates to their various destinations requires substantial energy, as shown by the extensive transportation networks involved. Despite the energy invested in their production, license plates generate minimal waste and are able to be recycled, highlighting their environmental sustainability. The license plate, a common form of identification, requires much more energy in its lifespan than one may realize.

Life-Cycle Bibliography

ABC10. “California License Plate Numbers Are Running Out!” YouTube, 5 Dec. 2023, youtu.be/ausIpIsgfdI?si=UcOY63UohCEQx2Gt. 

Alamdari, Houshang. “Aluminum Production Process: Challenges and Opportunities.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 11 Apr. 2017, www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/7/4/133. 

CALPIA. “License Plates.” CALPIA Store, catalog.calpia.ca.gov/services/license-plates/. Accessed 2 May 2024. 

Dinh, Han. “Nation’s Largest Alternative Fuel Fleet Delivers the Goods for the U.S. Postal Service.” Virginia, Merrifield. 

Gray, Walt. “What Should You Do with Your Old License Plates? | Abc10.Com.” ABC10, 1 Mar. 2023, www.abc10.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/why-guy-question/old-license-plates-what-to-do/103-c63bc596-3197-4b3e-80ac-896f28f0fb9b. 

Heise, Sarah. “See How Folsom Prison Inmates Churn out 50k CA License Plates a Day.” KCRA, KCRA, 7 Dec. 2020, www.kcra.com/article/see-how-folsom-prison-inmates-churn-out-50k-ca-license-plates-a-day/18785621. 

Homer, Talon. “The Long Strange History of License Plates in the U.S.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 6 Oct. 2022, auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/cost-of-car-ownership/history-license-plates-in-us.htm#:~:text=For%20instance%2C%20all%20of%20California%27s,sheet%20metal%20in%20the%20process. 

How Products Are Made. “Aluminum.” How Aluminum Is Made - Material, Manufacture, Making, Used, Processing, Aluminium, Composition, Product, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Aluminum.html. Accessed 3 May 2024. 

How Products Are Made. “License Plate.” How License Plate Is Made - Material, Manufacture, Making, History, Used, Dimensions, Industry, History, Raw Materials, www.madehow.com/Volume-5/License-Plate.html. Accessed 2 May 2024. 

Khaji, Khalil, and Mohammed Al Qassemi. “The Role of Anode Manufacturing Processes in Net Carbon Consumption.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 27 May 2016, www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/6/6/128. 

State of California DMV. “How to: Obtain Personalized and Special Interest License Plates.” California DMV, 20 Sept. 2023, www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/how-to-obtain-personalized-and-special-interest-license-plates-htvr-24/#:~:text=Sequential%20license%20plates%20are%20mailed,in%20about%204%2D6%20weeks. 

Strivens, T. A., and R. Lambourne. Paint and Surface Coatings: Theory and Practice. Woodhead Publ. Ltd, 1999. 

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “U.S. Recycling System Overview.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/us-recycling-system. Accessed 5 June 2024. 

WOOD TV8. “How Your Michigan License Plates Are Made.” YouTube, YouTube, 30 Jan. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTntQcsRM_0. 

Katie Castro

Kaitlin Pulido, Leslie Navarro

Professor Cogdell

DES 40A

5 June 2024

License Plate Lifecycle and Capability for Renewable and Sustainable Energy

The simplicity that is the license plate is something constantly overlooked, almost in a second-nature type of mindset as it is just a part of our daily lives. However, by analyzing the process of the materials that make up the license plate, its actual role in society, and how it can be recycled all reflect that there is more that meets the eye than just an aluminum plate. The lifecycle of a license plate consists of a versatile and multi-elemental process including the aspects of raw materials, energy, and waste. The manufacturing process, role, and sustainability of a license plate all are representative of how society uses and views this product. Our findings from the creation of a license plate to how it can be recycled show that over time, the product has provided both ethical work and sustainability for the Earth considering climate change and global warming. The license plate has become a source of renewable energy and materials and can be utilized to better care for the environment.

Analyzing the history of the license plate, its materials and use has served in identifying vehicles while also materially advancing for the best quality license plates. Historically, the license plate permanently began being distributed in 1914, being made of porcelain and consisting of brick red paint with white lettering. Eventually in 1942, the license plate evolved into steel due to the need for metal in war efforts during World War II (California DMV, Our History). We can see all of these aspects displayed in the image included below of a 1934 California License Plate. It consists of a steel base with paint creating the orange background and the required black lettering of the unique set of numbers and letters (National Museum of American History, California License Plate). We now see the history regarding the license plate and what it actually looks like. We will also come to understand how the license plate has a role in providing work for marginalized communities and how sustainable it is regarding waste. The role of the license plate has been vital in the structure of automobiles, the government, the workforce, and the environment, but we must know what they are even made of and how to understand the manufacturing process and specific materials.

The major source of the license plate is aluminum and this is the very foundation for the manufacturing of license plates and how they have improved its structure and use over time. Aluminum as an element is a younger material, discovered and named in 1808. It has a melting point of 660°C, which is the lowest temperature among all other metals (Tabereaux and Peterson, Aluminum Production). Its low boiling point makes it so that aluminum can easily be melted down and recycled or upcycled. These processes show also that properly done, aluminum can be converted into sustainable use. In Carl A. Zimring’s article about the case of upcycling aluminum, we learn that by manufacturing aluminum from a secondary source can save energy up to 95% instead of melting aluminum from bauxite (Zimring, Upcycling in History: Is the Past a Prologue to a Zero-Waste Future? The Case of Aluminum, pg. 50). Therefore, aluminum has the capability to sustainably be a source of renewable energy, opening up the gates for license plates to act the same. Not only can we claim that license plates are renewable as an object in itself, but also provides sustainability in the workforce. In California, there is Folsom State Prison which holds a factory of manufacturing license plates. Inmates are able to receive pay and skills for working in this factory. It has even gone beyond the pay where an inmate at Folsom State Prison claimed, “I've learned how to use the machines; I've never worked with computers before," Prasad said. "I'm working on getting my degree in college right now. I'm five classes away from getting my AA'' (KCRA, See how Folsom Prison inmates churn out 50K California license plates a day). The manufacturing process of license plates has shown that the materials used, being aluminum, provide a source of renewable energy, while also being sustainable for people of the community. It goes beyond just being ethical for the environment, but for the people as well. The creation and use of materials for the license plate are cohesive and finally, we are able to see how nearing the end of the license plate lifecycle, there is recycling and renewability.

Waste is additionally a vital point of the license plate lifecycle and by analyzing how it is broken down and used for other purposes pushes an ethical environment agenda. There are various ways in which license plates can be recycled or even upcycled including donating them back to the DMV, selling them, recycling them, or upcycling them. Any process which doesn’t involve throwing the license plate away or in a place that won’t benefit the environment or people is a great option to further advance sustainability and care for the environment. The main form of waste for license plates consists of deconstructing them and upcycling them. License plates can either be stripped down by the individual or the DMV. This is done through the process of shredding and/or melting. Depending on whoever is deconstructing, machinery can be used to shred the license plate into smaller pieces or melt it down back to an elemental aluminum state. As seen below, license plates can also be used to create different objects or decor through upcycling, which is creative reuse to make something of a higher quality from the materials of something else (Wheels For Wishes Foundation, What To Do With Old License Plates). Over time, there has also been development of different types of license plates, evolving from the original steel or aluminum model in efforts to be sustainable and ethical for the environment. The DMV has established special interest license plates, where a portion of the fees paid for the license plate go towards the charity or cause associated with the model of the plate. These are still aluminum grade plates, but are custom to the associated charity, making what is simply known as the license plate to be a source of income for those in need (California DMV, Special Interest License Plates). Lastly, a model called the digital license plate or “Rplate” has been released, separate from the California DMV. The digital license plate uses technology similar to the kindle from Amazon and has the ability to not only display the letters and numbers of the license plate, but personal ads and messages. Another feature is that the license plate can pay tolls, track stolen cars, and digitally provide vehicle registration. There are options for tracking mileage and geolocation so that if a car goes into a certain area, manufacturers of the Rplate would be notified of this. The Rplate being a model of the license plate separate from the DMV shows that the legality of the plate is not officially approved and still creates room for questions regarding accessibility, affordability, and sustainability. Since these models are digital and electronic, the source of material changes from aluminum to, as aforementioned, sources such as the Amazon Kindle (Doubek James, Digital License Plates Roll out in California). More research is needed to analyze how sustainable this process is and if the materials are renewable and able to be recycled or upcycled like the aluminum license plates. Ultimately, the growth and evolution of the license plates shows its journey from 1914 up to modern-day society. There is continual room for improvement to make it the utmost sustainable and renewable object while still providing vehicle identification. These are all imperative parts of the license plate lifecycle and we can now get a better understanding of these simple, yet effective concepts.

In conclusion, the lifecycle process of the license plate shows that from sourcing materials to using energy to manufacture and lastly the end of a license plate lifecycle in the processes of deconstructing, recycling, and upcycling. We have seen that the source of the license plate, being aluminum, is a useful element in creating a renewable source of energy, therefore, making the license plate sustainable. The license plate has provided ethical work for community members such as the Folsom State Prison inmates who have been able to receive pay and also education. And lastly, the evolution and growth of the license plate is constant as there have been and will continue to be many different models of the license plate. With the mindset of creating the highest quality and most renewable and sustainable license plate, this simple object that is a part of the vehicle identification process, will have a greater impact on Earth’s environment and people. It holds the capability for energy conservation and ethical sourcing that can only bring about the best outcome for the license plate. As research and manufacturing continues, the license plate will continue to be a positive and beneficial source of energy evolution and growth.

1934 Steel California License Plate

(National Museum of American History, California License Plate)

(Rootsandrestore, License Plate DIY Projects)

Digital License Plate

(Doubek James, Digital License Plates Roll out in California)

Works Cited

“California License Plate.” | National Museum of American History, americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1330982. Accessed 5 June 2024.

Doubek, James. “Digital License Plates Roll out in California.” NPR, NPR, 1 June 2018, www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/06/01/616043976/digital-license-plates-roll-out-in-california.

Heise, Sarah. “See How Folsom Prison Inmates Churn out 50k CA License Plates a Day.” KCRA, KCRA, 7 Dec. 2020, www.kcra.com/article/see-how-folsom-prison-inmates-churn-out-50k-ca-license-plates-a-day/18785621.

“Our History.” California DMV, 21 Apr. 2023, www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/about-the-california-department-of-motor-vehicles/the-history-of-the-department-of-motor-vehicles-dmv/#:~:text=History%20of%20the%20California%20License%20Plate&text=In%201916%2C%20the%20State%20of,that%20displayed%20the%20registration%20year.

Roostandrestore. “License Plate DIY Project Ideas.” -, 8 June 2020, roostandrestore.com/15-cute-creative-license-plate-projects/.

“Special Interest License Plates.” California DMV, 11 May 2023, www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/license-plates-decals-and-placards/california-license-plates/special-interest-license-plates/.

Tabereaux, Alton, and Ray Peterson. “Aluminum Production.” Treatise on Process Metallurgy (Second Edition), Elsevier, 22 Mar. 2024, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323853736000041.

“What to Do with Old License Plates: By State.” Wheels For Wishes, 25 Oct. 2021, www.wheelsforwishes.org/news/what-to-do-with-old-license-plate-by-state/.

Zhang, Bin, et al. “Does License Plate Rule Induce Low-Carbon Choices in Residents’ Daily Travels: Motivation and Impacts.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Pergamon, 26 Feb. 2020, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032120300769.

Zimring, Carl. “Upcycling in History: Is the Past a Prologue to a Zero-Waste Future? The Case of Aluminum Is the Past a Prologue to a Zero-Waste Future? The Case of Aluminum on JSTOR.” Upcycling in History: Is the Past a Prologue to a Zero-Waste Future? The Case of Aluminum, 2016, www.jstor.org/stable/26241375.