Question: I’m looking for a clarification or help in understanding the EV (electric vehicle) parking at the airport. I recently parked with a new EV with temporary plates (because it’s a new vehicle and plates aren’t yet in). I parked at the airport, and the parking personnel with Ampco refused to honor that I have an electric vehicle because it does not have an EV plate attached. I had to pay for parking — which I did not anticipate. The personnel also indicated that other people complained about the same and that they are just following the law and charging because that’s the law. I saw this Kokua Line article: 808ne.ws/2bUq8Y5. Is there an update to this, or am I able to rightfully ask for a refund?
Answer: State law has changed since the column you cited was published Jan. 12, 2012; the story quoted an unidentified Department of Transportation spokesman as saying that temporary plates would be treated like permanent ones to grant free parking to electric vehicles. That is no longer the case, and you are therefore unlikely to receive a refund.
The unexpected fee was $212 in your case, indicating a multiday parking bill that raises a separate question.
Here’s the full response from DOT spokesman Tim Sakahara:
“Act 168 (signed into law June 27, 2012) provides that a vehicle must have an Electric Vehicle (EV) license plate affixed to the vehicle. The EV license plate is provided when an electric vehicle is registered as an electric vehicle. Temporary plates do not meet the criteria stated in the Act that the vehicle will be registered as an electric vehicle. In addition, EVs with ‘fleet’ or ‘vanity’ plates do not meet the criteria stated in the law. Therefore, vehicles with temporary or paper plates will be assessed applicable parking charges for the duration the vehicle was parked in the facility. As a result, refunds are not granted for those with a temporary or paper plate. People may, however, call 808-861-1260 with any questions or comments.
“With respect to the question of how long EVs may park at Honolulu International Airport, the answer is that under current law (which is set to be repealed on June 30, 2020), EVs (properly tagged as described above) may park for free, except (1) if parked at a meter for more than two and one-half hours or the maximum amount of time allowed, whichever is longer; or (2) if the fees are assessed in increments longer than one 24-hour day, including weekly, monthly, or annual parking permits.
“At this time, an EV owner may park their car at the airport for free, for example, for multiple days without being charged. However, the airport is reviewing its parking fee schedule and it is subject to change as of this writing.”
Kokua Line also checked with the state Energy Office, and electric vehicle program manager Margaret Larson confirmed that airport parking administrators appear to be following the law by granting free parking only to those EVs that have an affixed EV license plate. There is no requirement to extend the perk to EVs with dealer-issued temporary plates, she said.
We also contacted ABM Parking Services (formerly known as Ampco), which administers airport parking. A manager at the airport parking office referred us to an ABM Industries corporate spokesman, who did not return our call by deadline.
Free parking provided to EVs under the state law applies only to county and state parking facilities (including metered stalls).
You can read more about laws and incentives promoting the use of electric vehicles in Hawaii at 808ne.ws/EVsinHI.
The Honolulu Airport’s current policy regarding EV parking is at 808ne.ws/ EVsatairport, although, as Sakahara noted, it is subject to change.
The state law apparently was not intended to promote free EV parking beyond 24 hours, although both the wording of the law and technical issues in collecting parking fees (which are generally assessed by automated systems) complicate that aspect of enforcement. It’s easy to see whether an EV has a permanent plate affixed, making that aspect of the law simple to enforce.
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