Electric cars in BC to get HOV green light, bypass occupancy requirements
Posted March 1, 2016 5:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA – Electric vehicle drivers in BC are about to get the green light to travel the province’s high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes even without passengers.
Premier Christy Clark is set to announce tomorrow at Vancouver’s Globe Conference on Sustainability and Innovation that drivers of eligible electric vehicles can travel the province’s HOV lanes regardless of occupancy requirements.
Currently, HOV lanes are open to vehicles with a driver and at least one passenger in efforts to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
In the announcement obtained by The Canadian Press, Clark says the changes are immediate, with the government moving to provide decals that must be clearly displayed on the vehicles.
The government defines electric vehicles as battery-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The HOV changes are part of series of vehicle emission initiatives that Clark is set to announce, including $7 million to fund more electric vehicle charging stations and to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.
