More freedom for electric cars: in 2020, owners of green licence plates will get new opportunities

On 11 July 2019, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a new law on Creation of charging station infrastructure for electric vehiclesand it came into force on 1 January 2020. We have made a compact excerpt from the extensive text on the draft law and tell you what this implementation brings, how it will affect the lives of electric car drivers, and what cars with internal combustion engines should be afraid of.

What it means

The Green Number Plate Law entitles electric vehicles to use separate parking spaces and free access to charging stations. If a car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) is parked in an electric car parking space or near a charging station, its driver will be fined between UAH 340 and 510, and the vehicle may be towed away.

Hybrid cars are also classified as electric vehicles and can enjoy the same rights, but they will not be issued green licence plates.

The new law came into force on 1 January 2020. Various ministries have been given 6 months to equip electric cars with green licence plates and to equip parking spaces with markings and special road signs, starting from the date of the document's official publication. By 9 February 2020, this work must be fully completed.

What it gives

The main thing is that the law eliminates conflicts between drivers of cars with internal combustion engines and drivers of electric cars. It will be easier for the former to identify an electric car among other cars, while the latter will be able to officially claim their rights and use the space near the charging station without hindrance.

The state has environmental and economic interests:

• improve conditions for electric car drivers and increase their number on the roads;
• Increase the use of charging stations and encourage their development and widespread adoption;
• reduce Ukraine's dependence on imported motor fuel;
• reduce carbon dioxide and harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Memo: what to do if

You are an electric car driver

• get numbers with green letters (optional);
• look for a parking space with green markings and a corresponding sign - this is a specially designated parking space for electric cars;
• freely use the space near the charging station and charge the battery for as long as you need;
• call the traffic police or contact a parking inspector if your legal space is occupied by a driver of a car with an internal combustion engine.

You are a driver of a car with an internal combustion engine

• be attentive, notice the places reserved for electric cars in the car park and near charging stations, and do not park your car there;
• be prepared to pay a fine in case of violation of the law.