To encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, it is recommended road controlling authorities (RCAs) restrict certain sites for electric vehicle charging and enforce this restriction.
To restrict a site for electric vehicle charging, RCAs need to ensure appropriate parking bylaws are in place. Defining bylaws require the RCA to:
Specify the restriction
The restriction should specify:
RCAs need to specify the duration that drivers can park in a restricted site, for example 90 or 120 minutes, and the hours during which the restriction applies, for example 8am to 6pm, or ‘at all times’.
To enforce a restriction on a car park for electric vehicle charging, the vehicles allowed to use the car park must be defined.
The Land Transport (Road User) Rule defines vehicle classes in New Zealand, including electric vehicles. An electric vehicle is a. "motor vehicle with motive power wholly or partly derived from an external source of electricity". This definition includes BEVs and PHEVs but excludes petrol-driven hybrids and other low emission vehicles.
Options for restricting a site for electric vehicles to charge their batteries include:
RCAs must list sites where parking is restricted in local bylaw schedules.
If applying new restrictions, or changing current restrictions, RCAs should consult affected parties through existing processes.
Find out more here about the approved symbols, signs and road markings that can be used for restricting sites to electric vehicle only parking.
In mid-2017, new engine type definitions were added to the Motor Vehicle Register (MVR) to allow for all types of electric-powered vehicles to be clearly and correctly identified in the MVR, assisting with enforcement activities.
RCAs are able to set penalties which can be applied when a parking restriction is breached.
There are generally three approaches taken to penalise drivers who breach parking restrictions:
Penalties for breaching on-road parking restrictions must be published. Penalties for offences that occur on private land are generally advised by displaying a notice on the land.
Flat towing an electric vehicle is not advisable due to the potential for unintended consequences. The recommended method is to pull the electric vehicle onto a flatbed recovery vehicle or trailer so that it can be removed from the scene in a static state. If a flatbed recovery vehicle is not available, then jockey wheels should be used under one axle set, with the other axle set being suspended off the road by the recovery vehicle to minimise movement of the electric vehicle’s wheels during the removal operation.