DRIVERS could soon be facing $200 fines under a new parking crackdown with certain vehicles being banned.
Pennsylvania motorists could soon also be towed if they park in a proposed new special slot for electric vehicles.
The House of Representatives in Harrisburg is considering a bill that will fine combustion engine drivers if they park in the special zones.
Under the legislation, spots reserved for EVs would be marked with signs and offenders could be tickets for fines between $50 and $200.
The bill has bipartisan support but is yet to make its first appearance on the House floor.
States are allowed to bar some types of cars from parking in some areas while allowing others.
One example is restrictions that includes parking in an EV bay without charging your car or parking in an EV bay with a conventionally fuelled vehicle.
For those who own electric cars, parking permits may be required by the new law.
Arguments over who is allowed to park in what kind of spot have led to fists being thrown.
EV PLEAS
Government policy is pushing new car buyers into purchasing an EV.
Citing air pollution, record global warming, and human rights costs of oil extraction, national governments announced plans to switch passenger vehicles to electric propulsion.
The US Federal government aims to incentivize Americans to make electric cars represent 50% of all new car purchases by 2030.
Massive, billion-dollar investments in charging infrastructure, US-based electric vehicle jobs, and new research and development missions from the Inflation Reduction Act are vying to make electric car driving easier.
The investments, Taalbi’s coauthor, Hana Nielsen, said is imperative.
“We need to create this state-of-mind that electric vehicles will be the default mode of transportation in the future,” Nielsen said.
“The worst that could be done are stop-and-go policies which leave the consumer and producer in limbo.”
Finding an EV charger
Finding a public charger doesn’t have to be difficult.
Many modern EVs have their own manufacturer-specific connected services technology that can locate compatible chargers.
With more automakers gaining access to Tesla’s Supercharging network with an NACS charging port, it can be even easier due to the vastness of the network.
According to an article from J.D. Power, additional ways to locate functioning and available chargers can be achieved with Plug In America, the PlugShare app for both iOS and Android, or the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.
Electrify America and EVgo provide the most accurate charging data, the site said, as they frequently update data over the air.
