BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: AB 475
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Butler
VERSION: 6/7/11
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 14, 2011
SUBJECT:
Vehicle charging
DESCRIPTION:
This bill allows any vehicle that is connected for electric
charging purposes to park in a garage space designated for
charging and eliminates the zero-emission vehicle decal program.
ANALYSIS:
Current law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to
issue zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) decals for the purpose of
parking and recharging in designated parking spaces. Cars,
trucks, or other vehicles that do not produce tailpipe or
evaporative emissions qualify for ZEV decals.
Current law also authorizes local authorities and the owners of
off-street parking facilities to designate stalls for the
exclusive purpose of fueling and parking a vehicle that displays
a valid ZEV decal. Vehicles parked in a designated space
without a ZEV decal, vehicles blocking a ZEV-designated space,
and vehicles that fraudulently display a ZEV decal are subject
to citation. In addition, a garage owner, if he or she meets
signage requirements and notifies the appropriate police or
sheriff's department, may remove (i.e., impound) a vehicle
parked in a designated space without a ZEV decal.
This bill :
Allows local authorities and the owners of off-street parking
facilities to designate stalls for the exclusive purpose of
charging and parking a vehicle that is connected for electric
charging.
Expands access to spaces designated for charging to any
vehicle that is connected for charging purposes, including
AB 475 (BUTLER) Page 2
both purely electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.
Eliminates the DMV program to issue ZEV decals and removes the
requirement that a vehicle parked in a space designated for
electric charging display a decal.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the bill . The author's intent is to make current
ZEV-designated stalls in off-street parking facilities
accessible to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles so that drivers
can utilize available charging facilities. Because a plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle has a gasoline-powered combustion
engine that acts as a back-up to the electric battery, it does
not meet the strict definition of a ZEV and is therefore
ineligible to park in ZEV-designated spaces. The larger goal
is to facilitate the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
and spur their market penetration, which would decrease
dependency on fossil fuels and help California meet its
greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
2.The ZEV decal program . DMV states that it has issued only 807
ZEV decals statewide for purely electric vehicles. Were this
bill to expand the ZEV decal program to include plug-in hybrid
vehicles, this program would likely grow substantially. This
bill, however, actually eliminates the decal program and
requirement completely. Because only chargeable vehicles may
connect to a charging station, and the connection itself will
be obvious, there really is no need for a decal. The vehicle
itself and the connection will serve as the decal. A garage
owner may then remove any vehicle not connected to the
charging station for charging purposes.
3.Concerns . One EV advocacy group expressed concern that
allowing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to access
ZEV-designated stalls could "edge out" strictly electric
vehicles because it is likely that plug-in hybrids will
significantly outnumber strictly electric vehicles in the
foreseeable future. EV advocates argue that strictly electric
vehicles have a greater need to access charging facilities due
to inherent range limitations and that, if access to charging
facilities is uncertain, strictly electric vehicle owners will
likely opt to use standard, gasoline-powered combustion engine
vehicles to complete required trips, resulting in increased
emissions and reduced consumer confidence in strictly electric
vehicles. The California League of Cities, on the other hand,
notes that ZEV-designated parking stalls generally are
AB 475 (BUTLER) Page 3
underutilized in the majority of city-owned garages while
noting that antiquated or inoperable charging facilities may
be a contributing factor.
4.Technical amendment : On page 3, line 24 strike "currently"
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 67-7
Appr: 15-0
Trans: 13-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 8, 2011)
SUPPORT: California Electric Transportation Coalition
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Plug In America
General Motors
OPPOSED: None received.