Consultation on EV access to special vehicle lanes

A proposal to allow electric vehicles access to special vehicle lanes in Auckland will be consulted on by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

The proposed bylaw would allow EVs access to 11 priority bypass lanes at motorway onramps in the city for a 12 month trial period.

Ten of these special vehicle lanes are currently reserved for use by high-occupancy (T2) motor vehicles and trucks and one is a bus-only onramp.

If the bylaw is approved, it is proposed the trial commence on August 25 2017.

Before the bylaw can proceed, Parliament has to make changes to the Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Bill.

The changes are part of the Government’s package to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand to 64,000 by the end of 2021.