In the Cove regularly receives photos of non-electric vehicles parking at an electric vehicle charging station in a Lane Cove Council Car Park. We are not into naming and shaming, so we advise the person sending us the information to contact the Lane Cove Council.
Apparently, there is a name for this activity, and it is called ICEing – which means internal-combustion engine (ICE) powering petrol and diesel vehicles parking in a charging station and leaving electric-car drivers unable to charge potentially forcing owners on flat batteries to wait for long periods until the charging bay has been vacated.
In November 2022, the NSW government introduced a new law which could see drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles fined up to $2200 for illegally parking in an electric-car charging spot. The fine also applies to parking an electric vehicle in a charging station but not charging.
The standard fine applied by Lane Cove Council is $117.
The Waverley Council explains how you can be fined as follows:
“These parking spots are designated as ‘No Parking – Electric Vehicles Excepted Only While Charging’. Charging is demonstrated by the charging cable being connected from the vehicle to the charge station. Should an EV not be charging, or another vehicle parked here, the driver could incur a fine (Disobey No Parking). Electric vehicle drivers will need to adhere to any normal parking restrictions that apply at that location. If you do encounter the wrong vehicle parked in this space, prohibiting EVs to park and charge, you can report it to Waverley Customer Service Centre via the Snap, Send, Solve or call 9083 8000.”
There are only limited EV Charging stations in Lane Cove Council Car Parks so Lane Cove Council has signed up to be part of a programme where charging stations will be installed on power poles throughout Lane Cove.
Lane Cove Council will be one of 11 councils in NSW to trial electric vehicle chargers on power poles.
Local street side power poles will be turned into electric vehicle (EV) charging stations under an Australian first trial being rolled out across the Sydney and Hunter regions of NSW.
It’s supported by the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency with a $871,000 grant.
The trial will involve 50 street-side locations across all of the LGAs, with each station connected to the overhead electricity from 100% GreenPower.
Smart metering and data intelligence provider Intellihub will lead the project, working with Lane Cove Council to investigate suitable locations for the Schneider 7.4kW EV chargers. EV drivers will be able to pay for their charging through an app, but parking will be free.
Locations being considered include:
- Phoenix St, Lane Cove
- Little Street, Lane Cove
- Longueville Road, Lane Cove
- Greenwich Road, Greenwich
- Oxley Street, St Leonards
- Cnr Oxley and Nicholson Street, St Leonards
- Mindarie Street, Lane Cove North
- Mayor Andrew Zbik said Lane Cove Council’s sustainability ethos supported the uptake of EVs.
“Council leads by example having earlier this year switched to 100% renewable energy in our facilities and street lights.
“Council has one of the largest local government charging networks with 15 free and 2 paid EV charging stations:
8 at The Canopy car park (including 2 paid fast charging)
4 in the Little Street car park
5 at Market Square Car Park
In early 2023, 4 free and 2 paid EV charging stations will open in Council’s new car park at St Leonards.”
“Council’s own fleet of cars includes 3 EVs as a pilot project, with plans to further expand this under development.
“Our Sustainability Lane event on Sunday 4 December is our second event where we have invited our community to meet with EV owners and explore opportunities to be more sustainable.”
“We’re at an important tipping point for the adoption of EVs and Council can support our community through increased access to charging.”
The Lane Cove/St Leonards parking study earlier this year examined current and future parking needs, including the recommendation that an EV parking strategy be developed. See more details here.
2021 census data shows 8,750 people or 56.7% of the Lane Cove LGA are unit dwellers.
Find out more about the project here.
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