EVs now get priority

There’s good news and bad news for Kiwi owners of electric vehicles after the results of an EV trial in March were announced recently.

The good news is that after that trial EVs will get to use 11 priority lanes in Auckland, including queue- inducing on- ramps on the Northwestern, Southern and Northern motorways.

The bad news is that this is only a 12- month trial.

The NZ Transport Agency ( NZTA) revealed the priority lane accessibility 10 days ago with signage installed this week on most on- ramps.

“Giving EV drivers the opportunity to use select bypass lanes on motorway on- ramps, providing faster access to the motorway and reducing travel times, is one of a number of incentives to increase EV uptake,” says NZTA’s Harry Wilson.

Recent changes to Land Transport Rules have enabled authorities, such as the NZ Transport Agency and local and regional councils, to make bylaws to allow EVs to use special vehicle lanes.

According to the NZTA, EV owners listed on the motor vehicle register will receive an information pack about the trial, including an EV sticker for their vehicle.

An EV is a vehicle that is partly or wholly powered by a battery that can be charged by connecting to an external source of electricity. Hybrids that cannot plug- in are not EVs and are not eligible to use special vehicle lanes that allow for EV access, says the NZTA.

The incentive is great news, especially as more brands add EVs to their lineup, though unlike BMW’s i3 and Nissan’s Leaf, some aren’t instantly recognisable as EVs. So don’t be annoyed if a ‘ normal’ looking car with just a driver in it is using the priority lane. ABOUT US