Energy (Electric Vehicles)

This bill requires new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in New Jersey to be accessible to drivers with disabilities within 18 months of the law's effective date. It mandates specific physical features, including 11-foot-wide charging spaces with 5-foot access aisles, clear floor space meeting ADA standards, and accessible communication features like touchscreens or audio interfaces. The law applies to all new EV charging installations and gives the Department of Transportation authority to require existing stations to comply where feasible. The bill directly affects EV charging station operators and ensures disabled drivers - using wheelchairs, canes, or mobility devices - can independently use charging stations.

This bill provides tax credits to businesses that purchase hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for use in their operations. Specifically, it allows a 25% credit (up to $15,000) for 2023 purchases, decreasing to 15% ($9,000) in 2024 and 8% ($5,000) in 2025. To qualify, businesses must obtain certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner confirming the vehicle meets the definition of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (powered by hydrogen cells converting chemical energy to electricity). The credits apply against corporation business tax and gross income tax, with limits preventing credits from exceeding 50% of tax liability. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to update the State Uniform Construction Code for parking structures to accommodate heavier electric vehicles (EVs). It mandates new parking structures to include at least 10% EV parking spaces, address EV weight loads, and include EV charger installation standards. For existing structures, the DCA must establish monitoring protocols for structural safety, publish upgrade examples, and require owners to fix safety issues within 90 days or face temporary closure. These changes directly affect parking developers, property owners, and builders of both new and existing parking facilities.

S 644 establishes New Jersey's "Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing Fund" in the state's General Fund, funded by $500 per retail electric vehicle sale reported annually. The fund supports repurposing (using old EV batteries for stationary storage like home energy systems), remanufacturing (restoring batteries to like-new condition), and recycling of EV batteries in an environmentally safe way. It directly affects electric vehicle owners (through the sales-based funding) and businesses handling battery processing. The bill aims to prevent toxic landfill contamination from batteries containing lithium, cobalt, and graphite as EV adoption grows in the state.