BILL ANALYSIS �
Bill No: AB
1696
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Lou Correa, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 1696 Author: Wieckowski
As Introduced: February 13, 2014
Hearing Date: June 24, 2014
Consultant: Paul Donahue
SUBJECT
Alternatively fueled vehicles; Incentives
DESCRIPTION
This bill adds parking spaces with charging stations for
plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) to the list of
incentives that the Department of General Services (DGS)
and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
may provide when implementing advanced technology vehicle
parking incentive programs in DGS parking facilities and
Caltrans park-and-ride lots.
EXISTING LAW
1)Enacts the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006,
requiring the Air Resources Board (ARB) to establish a
statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions limit and to
reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels.
2)Assigns Caltrans the responsibility for overseeing the
design, construction, maintenance, and operation of the
California state highway system and related facilities,
including park and ride lots.
3)Assigns DGS the responsibilities of business manager for
the state including property management and fleet
administration.
AB 1696 (Wieckowski) continued
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4)Defines "alternatively fueled vehicles" as light, medium,
and heavy duty vehicles that reduce petroleum usage and
related emissions by using advanced technologies and
fuels such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric,
natural gas, or fuel cell vehicles.
5)Requires DGS and Caltrans to develop and implement
advanced technology vehicle parking incentive programs,
to the extent feasible, in public parking facilities of
50 spaces or more operated by DGS and park-and-ride
facilities owned and operated by Caltrans to incentivize
the purchase and use of alternatively fueled vehicles in
the state.
6)Requires that advanced technology vehicle parking
incentive programs provide meaningful, tangible benefits
for drivers of alternatively fueled vehicles and
specifies that incentives may include preferential
parking spaces, reduced fees, and alternative fueling
infrastructure.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of the bill : The author notes that a potentially
significant hurdle that is discouraging people from moving
to electric vehicles (EVs) and meeting the Governor's
ambitious and notable goals regarding EV vehicle increases
on California's roadways is the overall lack of charging
facilities. EVs still often have limited battery capacity
and may often require charging during the day for
commuters. The current relative dearth of EV charging
stations, however, risks dissuading potential buyers of EVs
or failing to meet consumer expectations once they purchase
EVs. Reluctance to install charging stations has also
persisted even when the stations are offered at a
significantly reduced cost. The author urges passage of
this very modest bill that simply seeks to encourage
further development of and focus on this part of the EV
infrastructure challenge. In this way, California may
remain at the forefront of this exciting technological and
environmental safety revolution.
Support : Supporters believe that the future is starting now
for EVs, with advanced electrified drivetrain technology
successfully entering the market. These electric drive
vehicles, including plug-in electric and hybrid electric
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cars, could revolutionize transportation in the years to
come, reducing oil use and global warming emissions. They
believe that state parking lots can be an example by
providing charging stations in their lots.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
SB 454 (Corbett), Chapter 418, Statutes of 2013. Prohibits
operators of electric vehicle charging stations from
restricting access only to subscribers or members, and
required stations to accept credit cards or mobile payment
technologies.
SB 459 (Pavley), Chapter 437, Statutes of 2013. Requires
the ARB to expand the size and scope of a program that
subsidizes the purchase of new clean vehicles for
low-income drivers.
AB 2583 (Blumenfield), Chapter 676, Statutes of 2012.
Requires DGS and Caltrans to develop and implement advanced
technology vehicle parking incentive programs in specified
DGS- and Caltrans-operated parking facilities to
incentivize the purchase and use of alternative fuel
vehicles in the state.
AB 32 (Nu�ez), Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006. Enacted the
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires ARB to
establish a statewide GHG emissions limit and to reduce GHG
emissions to 1990 levels.
SUPPORT:
Union of Concerned Scientists
OPPOSE:
None on file
FISCAL COMMITTEE: No.
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