HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3002        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2594

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jonathan Hecht

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote the use of electric vehicles.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3002        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2594

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to promote the use of electric vehicles.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1.  As used in this Act, the following words shall have the following meanings:

“Electric vehicle”, a four-wheeled passenger motor vehicle that meets each of the following requirements:

(i)Is made by a manufacturer primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways and meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards for passenger vehicles;

(ii)Has not been modified from original manufacturer specifications with regard to power train or any manner of powering the vehicle;

(iii)Draws propulsion energy from a battery that is designed to be recharged from an external source of electricity;

(iv)Is rated at not more than 8,500 pounds unloaded gross vehicle weight; and

(v)Has a maximum speed capability of at least 55 miles per hour

"Electric vehicle charging system ", a system that meets each of the following requirements:

(i)Is capable of providing electricity from a non-vehicle source to charge the batteries of one or more electric vehicles;

(ii)Meets recognized standards, including standard SAE J1772 of SAE International; and

(iii)Is designed and installed in compliance with article 625 of the National Electrical Code.

Section 2.  Electric vehicles shall be authorized to travel, without regard to number of occupants, on lanes designated within the Commonwealth for use by high-occupancy vehicles.

Section 3.  Electric vehicles that draw propulsion energy solely from a battery shall not be subject to the emissions component of the inspection required by section 7A of chapter 90.  The secretary of administration and finance, based on a recommendation of the registrar of motor vehicles, shall determine a discounted amount to be charged for the other components of such inspection.

Section 4.  (a) All municipally owned or leased parking areas and facilities with at least 100 parking spaces and any improved or enclosed property used as an off-street parking area with at least 100 parking spaces for businesses, shopping malls, theaters, auditoriums, sporting or recreational facilities, cultural centers, residential dwellings, or for any other place where the public has a right of access as invitees or licensees shall have at least one parking space per 100 parking spaces designated exclusively for electric vehicles and equipped with an electric vehicle charging system located at each said parking space.  Said parking spaces may be located anywhere in the parking structure or lot, provided that no parking space designated for electric vehicles shall displace or reduce accessible stalls required by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.  Use of said parking spaces shall be restricted to electric vehicles while charging the vehicle’s battery.  Said parking places shall be clearly marked and their restricted use shall be enforced.

(b) Nothing in this section shall preclude owners or operators of said parking places from levying reasonable fees for use of an electric vehicle charging system.

Section 5.  Section 6 of chapter 64H of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsections:

(yy) Sales of electric vehicles up to eight thousand dollars of the sales price.

(zz) Sales of replacement parts for electric vehicles which are directly related to the electric propulsion system, including but not limited to the vehicle battery and electric motor.

(aaa) Sales of electric vehicle charging systems and replacement parts for such systems.