Bill > S2404

This bill aims to promote the adoption and use of zero emissions vehicles, which are defined as battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or fuel cell vehicles. It allows cities and towns to create special parking regulations for these vehicles, including designating specific areas for them and imposing fines for violations. The bill also mandates that the state building code, developed in consultation with the Department of Energy Resources, include requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure within one year of the act's effective date, potentially requiring the capability to install charging stations or the stations themselves. Furthermore, it clarifies definitions related to electric vehicles and charging services, stating that public electric vehicle charging stations cannot require subscription fees or memberships for general public access, though separate pricing for members is allowed, and that owners of publicly available parking spaces not primarily for charging services can restrict their use. The bill also requires public charging station operators to offer payment options accessible to the general public and to disclose station information to a designated database, and it empowers the Department of Energy Resources to establish interoperability billing standards for charging networks if national standards aren't adopted by a certain date. Finally, the Commonwealth is committed to purchasing electric vehicles for its own fleet, with 25% of new purchases being electric by 2025, and a study will be conducted to examine potential surcharges or fees to offset lost gas tax revenue due to increased zero emissions vehicle use.