New Jersey-2014-A3298-Introduced

An Act concerning electric vehicle charging stations, supplementing P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-1 et seq.) and P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-1 et seq.).

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this section:

"Electric vehicle charging station" means an electric recharging point complete with electric vehicle supply equipment that is capable of providing level 2 charging for plug-in electric motor vehicles;

"Electric vehicle supply equipment" means the conductors, including the underground, grounded, and equipment grounding conductors, and the electric vehicle connectors, attachment plugs, and all other fittings, devices, power outlets, or apparatuses that are installed specifically for the purpose of delivering electricity from the premises wiring to a plug-in electric motor vehicle;

"Level 2 charging" means the provision of 208-240 volt alternate current electricity to an onboard charger of a plug-in electric motor vehicle in a single phase with a maximum current specified at 32 continuous amps with a branch circuit breaker rated at 40 amps and a maximum continuous input power specified at 7.68 kilowatts; and

"Plug-in electric motor vehicle" means a vehicle propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor which draws electricity from a battery that is capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity.

b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall provide, within one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), that no fewer than five percent of parking spaces of each New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway service area having at least 100 parking spaces to which the public is invited shall be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.

c. The authority shall determine, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, the costs to the authority associated with the installation of, and provision of electricity through, the electric vehicle charging stations, and shall recover such costs from motorists who use the stations, in proportion to their use.

2. a. As used in this section:

b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority shall provide, within one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), that no fewer than five percent of parking spaces of each Atlantic City Expressway service area having at least 100 parking spaces to which the public is invited shall be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations.

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill directs the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Turnpike Authority to equip service areas along the toll roads under their jurisdiction with electric vehicle charging stations which would charge plug-in electric motor vehicles. The charging stations are required to be installed in at least five percent of service area parking spaces in service areas with no less than 100 spaces to which the public is invited. The authorities are directed to recover costs associated with the charging stations from motorists who use the stations, according to their use.

The promotion of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, and the infrastructure needed to recharge them, would serve to reduce the purchase of foreign petroleum that supports an estimated 75 billion on-road vehicle miles traveled annually in the State. New Jersey citizens, businesses, and institutions pay billions of dollars each year to foreign oil suppliers for the gasoline and diesel fuels needed for that travel.