Advice for road controlling authorities

To encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, it is recommended road controlling authorities (RCAs) restrict certain sites for electric vehicle charging and enforce this restriction.

Restricting a site for electric vehicle charging

To restrict a site for electric vehicle charging, RCAs need to ensure appropriate parking bylaws are in place. Defining bylaws require the RCA to:

• specify the restriction
• define the vehicles which the restriction applies to and
• define the site where the restriction applies.

Specify the restriction

The restriction should specify:

• the activity which the site is restricted to
• the time-limit for which drivers can carry out the activity and
• the hours during which the restriction applies. 

RCAs need to specify the duration that drivers can park in a restricted site, for example 90 or 120 minutes, and the hours during which the restriction applies, for example 8am to 6pm, or ‘at all times’. 

Define the vehicles to which the restriction applies

To enforce a restriction on a car park for electric vehicle charging, the vehicles allowed to use the car park must be defined.

The Land Transport (Road User) Rule defines vehicle classes in New Zealand, including electric vehicles. An electric vehicle is a. "motor vehicle with motive power wholly or partly derived from an external source of electricity". This definition includes BEVs and PHEVs but excludes petrol-driven hybrids and other low emission vehicles.

Specify the site where the restriction applies

Options for restricting a site for electric vehicles to charge their batteries include:

• applying the restriction to a site area not currently subject to any restrictions or
• changing an existing restriction, for example a site where all vehicles can currently park but only for 120 minutes.

RCAs must list sites where parking is restricted in local bylaw schedules.

If applying new restrictions, or changing current restrictions, RCAs should consult affected parties through existing processes.

Find out more here about the approved symbols, signs and road markings that can be used for restricting sites to electric vehicle only parking.

Enforcing restrictions

In mid-2017, new engine type definitions were added to the Motor Vehicle Register (MVR) to allow for all types of electric-powered vehicles to be clearly and correctly identified in the MVR, assisting with enforcement activities. 

Applying penalties

RCAs are able to set penalties which can be applied when a parking restriction is breached.

There are generally three approaches taken to penalise drivers who breach parking restrictions:

• imposing fines which can be enforced by the courts
• clamping the vehicle and requiring payment of a fine before the vehicle is released, or
• towing or removing the vehicle from the site and requiring a fine to be paid before the vehicle is released.

Penalties for breaching on-road parking restrictions must be published. Penalties for offences that occur on private land are generally advised by displaying a notice on the land. 

Flat towing an electric vehicle is not advisable due to the potential for unintended consequences. The recommended method is to pull the electric vehicle onto a flatbed recovery vehicle or trailer so that it can be removed from the scene in a static state. If a flatbed recovery vehicle is not available, then jockey wheels should be used under one axle set, with the other axle set being suspended off the road by the recovery vehicle to minimise movement of the electric vehicle’s wheels during the removal operation.