Victoria petrol and diesel cars to get ICE-y reception in EV parking spots

The Driven

Victorian drivers of pure combustion and non-pluggable hybrid vehicles will get an “ICE-y” reception if they park in designated electric car parking spots under new rules that come into effect on December 1, 2020.

“ICE-ing” is a term commonly used in the electric vehicle community to describe when an EV charging space is taken by an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, and the EV owner is unable to recharge their vehicle.

A document filed by Victorian Labor minister for roads and road safety Ben Carroll shows a recommendation to parliament that proposes ICE vehicles parking in EV-only spots are fined and given licence demerit points.

“The Victorian Government is working with the National Transport Commission and other states and territories to standardise parking laws,” a spokesperson for the Victorian government said in a note by email.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) led the process to develop the new rules after observing that councils and other parking operators were increasingly provided spaces exclusively for use by electric powered vehicles, however there was limited ability to enforce their use through the Road Rules.

The pro-EV move would be a small concession to EV owners who will from July 2021 be subject to a road user tax proposed by the Victorian treasurer that has attracted a great deal of negative reactions.

The new amendments would mean that any vehicle that cannot be recharged that is found to be parking in an electric vehicle space – whether or not it is next to a charging point – would be dealt 0.6 penalty points and a $99 fine on the spot, and up to 2 penalty points and $330 fine if the matter goes to court.

To read the full version of this story, please go to our EV-focussed sister site, The Driven and click here…