N.J. moves to pave the way for electric cars

New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation to promote the use of electric cars.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee Thursday approved measures that offer tax incentives for buying elective vehicles. Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan says the legislation also would also require Turnpike Authority service areas and shopping centers to have charging stations for those cars.

“It’s designed to spur an impetus, not only environmentally in having an opportunity for New Jerseyans to have access to electric cars, but also to become a leader in the industry,” he said. “Making sure you can recharge your car and making sure you have access to cars, and hopefully become an impetus for job creation in our state.”

Assemblyman Dan Benson says one of the measures would require owners of shopping centers to provide charging stations for plug-in vehicles.

“Unlike the hybrids that most people are used to right now, where they have the backup with some gasoline to provide for longer trips, we’re going to have cars that are going to need to have a charging station somewhere else while (drivers) are shopping or anything else,” Benson said. “Those centers, because (a charging station) doesn’t take up too much of a footprint, it’s a natural place to start.”

Sponsors of the legislation say with gasoline now around $3 a gallon and moving up, more people will become interested in electric cars to save money on fuel.