Report Title:

Electric Vehicles; Incentives

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules for the registration of electric vehicles and to issue special license plates for electric vehicles.  Waives parking fees, high occupancy vehicle restrictions, and vehicle registration fees for electric vehicles.  (HB2330 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2330

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the state to support the development and widespread consumer acceptance of electric vehicles within the state.  The growth in use of electric vehicles will attain significant reductions in air pollution, improve energy efficiency in transportation, and reduce the state's dependence on imported oil or petroleum products.  The legislature also finds that exempting electric vehicles from various requirements applicable to conventional, internal combustion, engine-powered vehicles may encourage operators to choose electric vehicles.

     Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, directed the department of transportation to establish and issue a special license plate to identify electric vehicles and exempted vehicles bearing the license plate from the payment of certain parking fees and high occupancy vehicle traffic restrictions.  In addition, Act 290 waived the motor vehicle registration fee and any license plate issuance fees for electric vehicles in the state.

     The legislature further finds that the provisions of Act 290 encourage the use of electric vehicles and advance the State's policy of supporting the development and widespread consumer acceptance of electric vehicles within the state; however, these incentives should be reviewed every five years.

     The purpose of this Act is to promote the use of electric vehicles in the state by exempting those vehicles from parking fees, high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions, and motor vehicle registration and licensing fees.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§286-    Electric vehicles; registration and fees.  (a)  The department of transportation shall:

     (1)  Establish and adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 for the registration of an electric vehicle in this state;

     (2)  Establish and issue a special license plate to designate that the vehicle to which the license plate is affixed is an electric vehicle; and

     (3)  Review the effectiveness of this section to promote the use of electric vehicles and report to the legislature every five years beginning at least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2013.

     (b)  An electric vehicle to which a license plate issued pursuant to subsection (a) is affixed shall be exempt from:

     (1)  The payment of parking fees, including those collected through parking meters, charged by any governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, when being operated in this state; and

     (2)  High occupancy vehicle lane restrictions.

     (c)  The motor vehicle registration fee, if any, assessed upon the registration of an electric vehicle in this state pursuant to section 286-47, including any fees associated with the issuance of a license plate pursuant to subsection (a), shall be waived.

     (d)  For purposes of this section, an "electric vehicle" shall not include a "neighborhood electric vehicle" as defined in section 291C-1."

     SECTION 3.  Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, is repealed.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.