1.2relating to transportation; highways; allowing use of HOV lanes by electric
1.3vehicles;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 160.02, by adding a
1.4subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 160.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 160.02, is amended by adding a
1.7subdivision to read:
1.8    Subd. 24a. Qualified plug-in electric drive vehicle. "Qualified plug-in electric
1.9drive vehicle" means a four-wheeled motor vehicle that:
1.10(1) is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways;
1.11(2) has not been modified from the original manufacturer's specifications;
1.12(3) has been acquired for use or lease, and not for resale;
1.13(4) is rated at not more than 8,500 pounds unloaded gross vehicle weight;
1.14(5) has a maximum speed capability of at least 55 miles per hour;
1.15(6) is propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor that draws electricity from
1.16a battery that (i) has a capacity of not less than four kilowatt hours and (ii) is capable of
1.17being recharged from an external source of electricity; and
1.18(7) is purchased or leased on or after October 1, 2010.

1.19    Sec. 2. [160.94] HOV LANE USE BY ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
1.20(a) A person may operate a qualified plug-in electric drive vehicle on designated
1.21high-occupancy vehicle lanes if:
1.22(1) the owner of the vehicle has acquired a permit under this section;
2.1(2) the vehicle has been licensed and registered for use on the streets and highways
2.2under chapter 168;
2.3(3) the vehicle meets the operating, safety, and equipment requirements of chapter
2.4169 to be operated on the streets and highways of this state; and
2.5(4) the vehicle meets applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards in Code
2.6of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 571.
2.7    (b) After adequate research, and consultation with the commissioner of public
2.8safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the commissioner of
2.9transportation may designate by order specific models of vehicles of certain manufacturers
2.10as presumptively meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) for qualified plug-in
2.11electric drive vehicles. A person who owns or operates a vehicle so designated by the
2.12commissioner under this paragraph shall obtain a permit to be carried in the vehicle for a
2.13fee not to exceed the cost to make and issue the permit.
2.14(c) For vehicles not so designated under paragraph (b), the commissioner may adopt
2.15by rule standards for compliance and inspection to obtain a permit under this section. The
2.16commissioner may also adopt rules to implement and administer this paragraph. The
2.17commissioner may require owners or operators of vehicles under this paragraph to pay a
2.18fee not to exceed the cost to make and issue the permit and conduct the inspection.
2.19    (d) The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commissioner of
2.20public safety and, for the metropolitan area, the Metropolitan Council, may suspend
2.21the issuance of permits under this section upon determining that use of HOV lanes has
2.22reached the maximum level that should be allowed. The commissioner may limit the
2.23number of permits issued annually under this section to ensure that HOV-lane operations
2.24do not exceed the maximum level allowed.
2.25(e) Fees collected under this section must be deposited in a special account in
2.26the special revenue fund and may be spent for the purposes listed in section 160.93,
2.27subdivision 2.
2.28(f) The commissioner of transportation shall report to the legislature annually on the
2.29transportation impacts of the use of HOV lanes by additional vehicles under this section.