Drivers of Clean-Air Cars to Get a Break

Drivers of electric and natural-gas cars will soon get a perk for not contributing to Los Angeles’ pollution problem: free parking at city meters.

Beginning April 2, motorists who drive zero-emission and certain “super ultra-low emission vehicles” will no longer have to feed meters throughout Los Angeles. But drivers will still have to abide by posted time limits, such as two-hour parking.

“It’s these types of things we’ve been talking to different counties and cities about,” said Rich Varenchik, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board. “What can you do to give [drivers of such cars] a boost? The more we have on the streets in the hands of consumers, the better our air will be.”

City meter readers will be able to tell if a car qualifies for free parking by looking for a state-issued decal that enables certain clean-air vehicles to travel in carpool lanes without the mandatory number of passengers.

“We thought this would be an easy way for traffic officers to see who qualifies,” said David Gershwin, spokesman for Los Angeles City Councilman Alex Padilla, who suggested the program.

Zero-emission cars, essentially battery-electric vehicles, and “super ultra-low emission vehicles,” which run on such alternative fuel as compressed natural gas, are the only ones that can park for free. Vehicles that use gasoline will not qualify.

It is unknown how much meter money the city will lose with this program, Gershwin said. After a year of the pilot program, officials will determine the level of participation and how much revenue was lost in deciding whether to continue the effort.

City officials estimate there are 1,200 alternative-fuel vehicles in Southern California. People who buy or lease zero-emission vehicles can receive state grants of $3,000 to help defray costs.

Christopher Yoder, a Pasadena resident who has driven an electric car since 1991, said he is a frequent patron of Old Pasadena because the city offers free charging stations.

“I get into the city of L.A. enough that [the new program] would be a good thing,” said Yoder, who works at Caltech. “There are plenty of incentives to get into an electric vehicle. I have at least three friends who would love to but can’t, because they’re not producing them. That’s been the main stumbling block for at least the last two to three years.”