[NSW] EV Cars with Solo Driver Can Legally Drive in T2 & T3 Transit Lanes during Peak Period (Blue EV Plate Sticker Required)

vr4indian on 24/09/2024 - 08:57
Last edited 24/09/2024 - 14:10 by 2 other users

Moved to Forum: Original Link

With so many popular EV Deals recently, many drivers may not be aware about using T2 / T3 Lanes during Peak period.

Motorists travelling through New South Wales in an electric vehicle (EV) can continue to use the state’s transit lanes T2 / T3 lanes until mid-2025 while driving solo.

To use the T2 and T3 transit lanes with no occupants other than a driver in the car, EVs must have the blue triangular ‘EV’ sticker on their number plates.

So enjoy your ride while ICE car pays road tax and stuck in traffic while you can zoom past using T2/T3 lanes.

Page 51 of Driving Knowledge Test - https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/driver-kn…

LD026 - Traffic Lights / Lanes and LD027 - Traffic Lights / Lanes contracticts this policy or freebies :)

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Comments

      • WhyAmICommenting on 24/09/2024 - 09:58

        Compressed natural Gas usually

        • hymio on 24/09/2024 - 10:11
          +1

          Oh you're right! I didn't realise the changeover will take 10+ years… Apparently there's a couple hundred electric buses in Sydney so I've been a bit spoilt. They're so much quieter!

    • shiny1 on 24/09/2024 - 09:44
      +5

      This is a pretty short sighted view. The bigger picture is that this supports the transition to better energy infrastructure. Transitional periods are slow and necessary, so of course, early adoption figures are terrible. This would skew the data and people use it as a point of argument while not realising the long term effects and goals.

      A simple way to think about this is by imagining an realistically ideal scenario given the trajectory of tech and energy advancements, and work backwards. You can for example: you want all energy to be basically free and easily generated. EV is currently our best option. All industrial, commercial and residential infrastructure will run on clean energy produced locally or even by the individual. This technology allows for so many economical implications (net positive, hopefully). Working backwards, how do you get there? Somewhere down the line, decades or even a hundred years or so, we will be where we currently are. And someone on the internet will say "Nah ICE cars are better and EVs suck".

      My perspective has flaws, but I think there are reasonable assumptions.

    • Papa Huggies on 24/09/2024 - 10:24

      Willing to bet my whole damn offset account you don't ride the bus for your commute

      • taki on 24/09/2024 - 11:18

        I prefer trains for much better social life. Don't need to spend big money to O/S countries when you meet different cultures here ;)

  • kungfuman on 24/09/2024 - 09:02
    +10

    yay another reason to have an EV, now you can give other drivers driving ICE cars the finger from the T2 and T3 lanes.

    • fantombloo on 24/09/2024 - 09:05
      +12

      Or just drive with mates in your ice car and give everyone 2 or 3 fingers if you really wanna do that.

      • smartazz104 on 24/09/2024 - 09:37
        +2

        Judging by the amount of people driving solo, most people don’t have friends.

  • PainToad on 24/09/2024 - 09:02
    +38

    Where’s the bargain? What’s next posting that you can use the swing for free at your local council park?

    • kungfuman on 24/09/2024 - 09:03
      +1

      I think this i more of a community announcement

        • kungfuman on 24/09/2024 - 09:10
          +11

          why you telling me this? I didn't post this lol

      • coffeeinmyveins on 24/09/2024 - 09:28
        +4

        That's what the forum is for, not the deals section.

        this isn't a deal.

      • kaleidoscope on 24/09/2024 - 09:55

        Then it belongs in the forums, not deals section imo.

        • ozborgain on 24/09/2024 - 10:29

          Guess it’s a dealbreaker

    • mrau on 24/09/2024 - 09:16
      -6

      It is a bargain, considering ev drivers are saving time and money using this rule

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 24/09/2024 - 09:18
      +4

      I've seen the people that go to the local park. No way i will be swinging with them.

      • Jack D Price on 24/09/2024 - 09:21

        yeah, maybe just keep to the drugs

    • sauce2k on 24/09/2024 - 09:22

      I would like to know if we can park for free at local council park

      • mrau on 24/09/2024 - 09:41

        Depends on the Council. In my area, the answer is no

    • gadget on 24/09/2024 - 09:28
      +10

      Considering I often see single occupant drivers in the T2/3 lanes I'd say the enforcement process is pretty much non existent regardless of what you drive.

    • Whatisthatvelvet on 24/09/2024 - 09:40

      Wait what! Where is this free swing you talk of?

    • Iwantthatbargain on 24/09/2024 - 09:44

      ICE owner spotted 🤣

      • PainToad on 24/09/2024 - 09:49

        I have no issues with EVs. My issue is in your username 'Iwantthatbargain'.

    • vr4indian on 24/09/2024 - 09:51
      +1

      I can understand. Some incentives divides society by favouring part of public.

      However we do have deals with Free access to Swimming Pools or National park on certain days.

      In my view, they should scrap T2/T3 as migration/population is too high in Syd, leading trafic congestion on roads. Better to remove T2/T3 ( which did serve purpose 10-15 years back ) to let everyone using infrastructure.

      • PainToad on 24/09/2024 - 09:54
        +1

        However we do have deals with Free access to Swimming Pools or National park on certain days.

        That's because there is normally a fee associated with those facilties. So it's a bargain because there is a discount. There is no discount here.

        I can understand. Some incentives divides society by favouring part of public.

        I'm not commenting on EVs or associated incentives. I'm purely saying this isn't a bargain and belongs in the forums imo.

    • whyisave on 24/09/2024 - 10:14

      you can use the swing for free at your local council park?

      This was not possible in 2020 - 2021

  • rifter on 24/09/2024 - 09:04
    +5

    WTF. Thought EVs better suited to stop start traffic than ICE vehicles.
    This initiative will increases pollution in our city.

    • rifter on 24/09/2024 - 09:15
      -1

      So to the neg voters. Are you saying EVs are not better suited to stop start traffic.

      • freefall101 on 24/09/2024 - 09:26
        +5

        I didn't neg you, but claiming it will increase pollution doesn't make any sense.

        • rifter on 24/09/2024 - 09:33
          +1

          Like AuOld says. Maybe it would be a good idea to let all the trucks use it instead.

    • ConsumerAffairs on 24/09/2024 - 09:21
      +1

      The first thing I thought of too

    • Benjamin7711 on 24/09/2024 - 09:26
      +5

      Initially maybe - but I guess by making EVs more attractive to own, for a variety of reasons, may increase the uptake of EV from ICE

      • jv on 24/09/2024 - 11:23
        -1

        Not if people can't afford them…

    • stephendt on 24/09/2024 - 09:27
      -1

      Ah yes because EVs are always emitting pollution?

      • jv on 24/09/2024 - 11:23
        -1

        In Vic, most still use brown coal to charge up…

    • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 24/09/2024 - 13:40
      +1

      I'm an EV driver so definitely not anti-EV, but you are 100% correct. Like hybrids, EVs are at their most efficient in stop-start traffic, unlike ICE vehicles which are at their least efficient.

  • BuyNow Think Later on 24/09/2024 - 09:07
    +3

    "The congestion-reduction tactic doesn’t apply to hybrids or plug-in hybrids, some of which can run on solely electric power."

    Hybrids have the blue triangular ‘EV’ sticker on their number plates but are not considered EV for this.

    • Frankensnore on 24/09/2024 - 09:30

      I don’t think they look into the model of the car, instead they just look at the sticker

      • JDMcarfan on 24/09/2024 - 09:42

        Yeah if that’s the way of enforcement (to be expected) then every hybridised vehicle will be permitted (even bs mild hybrids).
        Gonna be hiluxs in the transit lanes

  • WatchNerd on 24/09/2024 - 09:11
    +11

    Not a bargain as push bikes are cheaper & can go in these lanes for free too. Also costs less to run & plenty of free parking spots.

    • beesider on 24/09/2024 - 09:19
      +2

      In Sydney, push bikes are stolen the next minute you park them, so not that many people cycle. There's literally zero bicycles in outer suburbs. So I wouldn't say it costs less to run, quite the opposite - replacement costs aren't cheap.

      This is absolutely different in Melbourne outer suburbs, by the way. Plenty of bikes parked at almost every train station in suburbia. You'd never see that in Sydney.

      • lgacb08 on 24/09/2024 - 09:26
        +4

        It's more because of the hilly terrain of the city discouraging rider, most part of Melbourne is flat, only the north east bit and you'd be hard pressed seeing bike rider on that part.

        • beesider on 24/09/2024 - 10:04

          I'd argue with that. Sutherland Shire is not that hilly and inner city isn't too bad either. Yet no bikes at all.

          The only place with lots of bikes parked in Sydney is Manly Wharf. The pricey ferry fare must be stopping lowlifes from going and stealing bikes from there.

  • sinnerman on 24/09/2024 - 09:12
    +8

    So they weren't kidding about EV car owners not having friends ?

  • SSJX on 24/09/2024 - 09:12
    +3

    OP, please update your post to state only Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) only.
    It does not include hybrids or plug-in hybrids.

    I saw a cop pull over a hybrid (solo driver) the other day in the T2 lane on the Warringah Freeway

  • Mingles on 24/09/2024 - 09:12
    +4

    Love my EV, but can't see this working out well. As soon as an ICE car see's an EV in the T2/T3 lanes, everyone is joining them.

    • tessel on 24/09/2024 - 09:24
      +3

      Well, maybe that's the plan. Talk about an excellent revenue raising opportunity.

      • Mingles on 24/09/2024 - 09:25

        100%!

      • airzone on 23/10/2024 - 17:35

        The new form of road use charge

  • 4agte on 24/09/2024 - 09:12
    +7

    What's the retail price?

    • Benjamin7711 on 24/09/2024 - 09:27
      -1

      Your time, and you can't put a price on that

      • gadget on 24/09/2024 - 09:31
        +1

        Sure you can, it's just different for everybody

      • AsukaST on 24/09/2024 - 09:33

        Yes you can.
        The greenies who protest and block roads, damage art works don't even worth the minimum wages.

    • freefall101 on 24/09/2024 - 09:29

      You can buy a bus for $7k.

      Fuel prices might eat into the value though.

  • slowlyslowly on 24/09/2024 - 09:14

    Interesting I saw a BMW X3 (non ev) with the blue triangle. Looked at it hard as I was surprised with the EV symbol and exhausts. Is the blue EV symbol the key to this? Where do you get them? Is that the get out of jail free card?

    • BuyNow Think Later on 24/09/2024 - 09:20

      This applies to BEVs only.

    • pwnd on 24/09/2024 - 09:27

      You probably saw the plug in hybrid X3. Would have blue triangle as that just signifies that there is a large battery on board of the vehicle.
      Same as the red triangle used to signal that there is a large gas tank on board the vehicle.

  • AuQld on 24/09/2024 - 09:14
    +4

    Wouldn't it be better for the environment if trucks use it instead to get to their destination faster.

  • AstroPhysic on 24/09/2024 - 09:17
    +1

    What if I have 4 passengers?

    • gadget on 24/09/2024 - 09:38
      +6

      You're probably doing more for the environment than a single occupant EV?

    • airzone on 23/10/2024 - 17:37

      Sorry, you can only drive in a T4 lane

  • Shane043 on 24/09/2024 - 09:18
    +13

    Proudly recharged by hunter valley coal

    • RedHab on 24/09/2024 - 09:24
      +3

      Yep, in NSW EV's are mostly coal-fired cars.

      • mini2 on 24/09/2024 - 09:27
        +9

        doesn't hurt if they can't see it

        • kaleidoscope on 24/09/2024 - 10:02
          -1

          ev owner logic :D

          p.s. - i don't hate the evs, i just think they need more infrastructure in place to become more practical for everyday users and the other costs involved. for me currently the only things swings the balance is whichever is cheaper to own for a given period of time (running costs / fuel / charging / insurance / maintenance etc.. )

      • klaw81 on 24/09/2024 - 09:36
        +5

        And even like that, they're still miles better for the environment overall.

        Large-scale fixed infrastructure running at constant speed, and with energy reclaiming mechanisms, are far more efficient than even the most sophisticated ICE.

        When you consider that NSW is rapidly expanding renewable energy generation, EVs will continue to become more "green" every year for the foreseeable future, which ICE vehicles emissions tend to get worse each year due to wear.

        • jv on 24/09/2024 - 11:29

          And even like that, they're still miles better for the environment overall.

          Not in Vic. An EV charged using brown coal emits more pollution than a car using LPG.

          • gadget on 24/09/2024 - 11:45

            @jv: Bring in hydrogen!

            • klaw81 on 24/09/2024 - 12:10

              @gadget:

              Bring in hydrogen!

              Hydrogen cars are already in Australia. They've been an abject failure due to the very high costs associated with producing hydrogen. This will continue to be a major pain point for hydrogen cars, and that's unlikely to change until we have enormous amounts of energy surplus.

          • klaw81 on 24/09/2024 - 12:08

            @jv:

            An EV charged using brown coal emits more pollution than a car using LPG.

            False.

            LPG is about 40% better than petrol or diesel, but it's still much worse than an EV over an equivalent lifespan. All you do is move the break-even point a bit further down the road.

            The ABC provides the figures for each state, and Vic is only a tiny bit worse than Qld, but not as bad as WA.

            • jv on 24/09/2024 - 12:11
              -1

              @klaw81:

              False.

              No, it's true…

              over 90% of the electricity EVs use here is from non-renewable sources.

              • klaw81 on 24/09/2024 - 12:29

                @jv:

                over 90% of the electricity EVs use here is from non-renewable sources.

                It simply doesn't matter. The relative efficiency of coal + EV vs fossil fuels + ICE makes every other factor unimportant. Small, variable load engines simply cannot compete with large-scale industrial processes.

                Even an EV charged entirely from brown coal power stations will have overall lower emissions over its lifetime than an equivalent ICE of the same class, regardless of which fuel it uses.

                Read the ABC article; it's broken down by state and you'll see exactly where Vic sits relative to others.

                By the way, your semi-random use of bold text is super annoying.

                • jv on 26/09/2024 - 12:21
                  -1

                  @klaw81:

                  It simply doesn't matter.

                  Of course it does matter…

                  • klaw81 on 26/09/2024 - 12:44

                    @jv: It makes a difference, but only a small one. The outcome is much the same regardless of the method used for electricity generation, and only the margin by which the EV is better changes…..it's not even close.

                    • jv on 26/09/2024 - 13:11

                      @klaw81:

                      It makes a difference, but only a small one.

                      That is just an opinion, not fact.

                      • klaw81 on 26/09/2024 - 13:50

                        @jv: Here's some actual figures to back up my claim.

                        Over 190,000km of distance travelled, an EV charged solely using Victoria's current mix of 90% fossil fuels will consume energy with a total carbon footprint of ~12.9t CO2 (figures from Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change dated 2022).

                        Now that is clearly a lot more than the same car in Tasmania (0.8t of CO2) and not quite as high as the same car in WA (14.2t CO2). But when you compare to the ~46t of CO2 associated with a petrol vehicle of the same class, the 12.9t from an EV on Vic's dirty power just isn't significant….about 28%.

                        Using your cited scenario of an LPG powered vehicle, at around 165g CO2/km average (compared to ICE at ~240g CO2) you still end up at over 31t CO2 for that same distance…..well over double that of our Victorian coal-fired EV. Even when you factor in the extra ~7t CO2 associated with the manufacture of the EV's battery, it's still not even close.

                        So no, it's not just an opinion. It's straight maths, and it's a direct result of the low efficiency of ICE engines relative to both electric motors and large-scale steam turbine engines.

                        Citation: fuel consumption figures are derived from the ABC's article on this exact topic, using data sourced from the European agency Transport & Environment and WLTP….which are considered to be somewhat generous to ICE vehicles and unlikely to be replicated in the real world.

                        • jv on 26/09/2024 - 13:53

                          @klaw81: Your source appears to have a conflict of interest…

                          • klaw81 on 26/09/2024 - 13:56

                            @jv: That's a pretty weak response. Feel free to source figures from a "more reputable" source, if you can.

                            The bold text thing is still unjustifiable, and I can only assume you're doing it to annoy people.

                            • jv on 26/09/2024 - 13:57

                              @klaw81:

                              That's a pretty weak response.

                              This is weaker though…

                              • klaw81 on 26/09/2024 - 14:00

                                @jv: You're right, you replying in such a childish way is even weaker.

                                I assumed I was discussing this with a sensible adult, but it seems that I've given you too much credit. I'm out. Feel free to have the last word if you must.

                                • jv on 26/09/2024 - 14:01

                                  @klaw81:

                                  You're right

                                  I know.

                • jv on 26/09/2024 - 12:22

                  @klaw81:

                  By the way, your semi-random use of bold text is super annoying.

                  R U OK ?

                  • z28 on 29/09/2024 - 11:59

                    @jv: …

          • smartazz104 on 26/09/2024 - 12:18

            @jv: Yeah too bad LPG cars are effectively gone. Might as well compare them to steam-powered cars.

    • cuokuo on 24/09/2024 - 09:38
      +5

      Apparently still produces less carbon to power an EV with coal power than petrol https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-27/comparing-electric-ca…

      • jv on 24/09/2024 - 11:30
        -1

        Not less polluting than LPG though…

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 24/09/2024 - 10:14

      Or The sun.

      • jv on 24/09/2024 - 11:30

        Nuclear?

  • AsukaST on 24/09/2024 - 09:21
    -3

    Another typical policy failure from Labor.

  • bigbadboogieman on 24/09/2024 - 09:27

    Didn't know they were enforcing T2 and T3 lane rules. It always seemed like a hit and miss. Thanks for the driving rules reminder OP 🙏

  • djsweet on 24/09/2024 - 09:27
    +1

    Would be more environmentally friendly to continue to drive your ICE car than to upgrade to an EV. Maybe cars >x years old should also be allowed to use the transit lanes.

    • muncan on 24/09/2024 - 10:15

      Add on a grandpa lane.

  • Frankensnore on 24/09/2024 - 09:29
    +2

    How this works is simply by the blue triangle sticker on the number plate.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/395428512029?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mk…

    • slankets on 24/09/2024 - 09:35

      How does enforcement work? Camera to detect the triangle? Or just a cop pulling someone over and checking. I don't see any enforcement cameras or cops pulling anyone over during peak.

  • sertse on 24/09/2024 - 09:31
    +10

    Makes no sense, T2/T3 are to reduce congestion but having multiple people in the car before being allowed to use the lane. A single driver whether petrol or EV equally is wasteful to congestion.

    • gadget on 24/09/2024 - 09:40
      +3

      This. Another dumb decision by our policy makers.

    • team teri on 24/09/2024 - 09:42
      +4

      I guess someone crunched the numbers and figured out that with relatively few EVs on the roads the impact on congestion will be next to nothing if they can use T2/T3.

      At the same time it gives an added incentive to consider EV when buying a new car. It's a No-Lose/Win situation. Good idea.

      Note: it is time-limited. I am sure before this scheme comes up to be extended or scrapped, someone will check the numbers and see if the same "almost zero impact on congestion" still holds true.

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