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Modify laws and regulations to make it easier to permit and install curb side or off-street electric vehicle charging. Most residential area street lighting is 110/220, while a lot of the arterial lighting is higher voltage and a bit more problematic. Generally, the main problem is policy and regulations, not technical. Questions that would need to be addressed include: 1) How do you meter it and collect payment? (Giving away publicly generated power is considered a gift of public funds, which is not allowed), 2) Who owns and maintains the equipment? And 3) How do you regulate the parking spaces?

RCW 43.325 and 43.19.648 collectively mandate that all state agencies, to the extent determined practicable by the department of community, trade, and economic development by rules adopted pursuant to 35 RCW 43.325.080, are required to achieve forty percent fuel usage for operating publicly owned vessels, vehicles, and construction equipment from electricity or biofuel by June 1, 2013. Compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or propane may be substituted for electricity or biofuel if the department of commerce determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available. By December 31, 2015, the state must, to the extent practicable, install electrical outlets capable of charging electric vehicles in each of the state’s fleet parking and maintenance facilities. These laws expire June 30, 2016. We propose extending this law’s expiration date to June 30, 2022 and provide funding to assist State agencies in the transition to alternative fuels.

Authorize a custom license plate for electric vehicles with the proceeds reserved to help fund state highway electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Adopt a clean vehicle rebate program such as California’s SB359, passed in 2013. Rebates between $1,000 (all vehicle owners) and $1,500 (household income at or below 225 percent of federal poverty level) are provided for the voluntary retirement of high-polluting vehicles.

Adopt the California exemption that authorizes single-occupancy zero emission vehicle access to HOV lanes. Sunsets in five years or after zero emission vehicles reach 10% of all registered passenger vehicles, depending on impact to HOV lane capacity

Repeal the portions of HB 2524 and SB 6272 passed in 2014 that limit or restrict Tesla and other direct to consumer vehicle sales.

All registered electric vehicles are required to pay an annual $100 license renewal fee, in lieu of paying Washington’s gas taxes. We recommend amending the law to either remove the $100 fee for electric motorcycles and mopeds/scooters or reduce it to $30.