Florida Fleet Purchaser/Manager
Hydrogen and Biofuels Tax Exemption
Through July 1, 2010, the sale or use of the following is exempt from Florida state sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and storage tax: 1) hydrogen powered vehicles and related materials, and hydrogen fueling stations, up to a maximum of $2 million in taxes per fiscal year in aggregate; 2) materials used in the distribution of biodiesel (B10-B100) and ethanol (E10-E100), including fueling infrastructure, transportation, and storage, up to a maximum of $1 million in taxes per fiscal year for all taxpayers. Gasoline fueling station dispenser retrofits for ethanol (E10-E100) distribution also qualify for this exemption. (Reference Florida Statutes 212.08)
Point of Contact
Kelley Smith
Chief Analyst and Grant Manager
Florida Energy and Climate Commission
Phone (850) 487-4644
Fax (850) 922-9701
kelley.smith@eog.myflorida.com
http://myfloridaclimate.com/climate_quick_links/florida_energy_climate_commission
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption
Inherently Low Emission Vehicles (ILEV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) that are certified and labeled in accordance with federal regulations may be driven in HOV lanes at any time, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle. All eligible ILEVs and HEVs must comply with the minimum fuel economy standards set forth in Title 23 of the U.S. Code, section 166(f)(3)(B). The vehicle is required to display a decal issued by the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles and be renewed annually. Special fees may apply. Vehicles with decals may use any HOV lane designated as a HOV toll lane without requiring payment of the toll. An HEV is defined as a motor vehicle that draws propulsion energy from onboard sources of stored energy comprised of both an internal combustion engine using combustible fuel and a rechargeable energy storage system, and meets or exceeds the qualifying California standards for a Low Emission Vehicle. (Reference Florida Statutes 316.0741)
Point of Contact
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Phone (850) 617-9000
http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/titlinf.html
Ethanol Blend Mandate
Beginning December 31, 2010, all gasoline sold or offered for sale in the state by a terminal supplier, importer, blender, or wholesaler must contain 9-10% ethanol by volume (E10). The fuel mandate does not apply to fuel used in aircrafts or watercrafts, fuel sold to a blender, or fuel sold for use in collector vehicles, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, or small engines. If a terminal supplier, importer, blender, or wholesaler is unable to obtain ethanol fuel or E10 at the same or lower price as unblended gasoline, then the covered entity may apply for a waiver. (Reference Florida Statutes 526.201-526.207)
Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Acquisition and Alternative Fuel Use Requirements
When procuring new vehicles under a state purchasing plan, all state agency, state university, community college, and local government fleets must select the vehicle with the greatest fuel efficiency available for a given use class. Exceptions may be made for emergency responder vehicles when documentation is provided. In addition, all state agencies must use ethanol and biodiesel blended fuels when available. State agencies administering central fueling operations for state-owned vehicles must procure ethanol and biodiesel fuels to use in their vehicle fleet to the greatest extent possible. (Reference Florida Statutes 286.29)
Biofuels Promotion
The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT), is required to conduct an analysis of fuel additives and biofuels use by the DOT through its central fueling facilities. The DMS is required to encourage other state government entities to analyze transportation fuel usage, including the types and percentages of fuels consumed, and report such information to the DMS. (Reference Florida Statutes 287.16)
Idle Reduction Requirement
Beginning December 15, 2008, idling of any heavy-duty diesel vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or more for more than five consecutive minutes is prohibited. Exemptions apply in the following circumstances: traffic conditions; emergency or law enforcement purposes; verification that a vehicle is safe to operate; power work-related operations; bus passenger comfort; or prevention of safety or health emergencies. Until September 30, 2013, exemptions also apply for sleeping or resting in a sleeper berth. (Reference Florida Administrative Code 62-285.420)
Low-Speed Vehicle Access to Roadways
A low-speed vehicle, including a neighborhood electric vehicle, is defined as any four-wheeled electric vehicle capable of achieving a top speed between 20 and 25 miles per hour. Low-speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 571.500 and 316.2122 and be licensed as required under state guidelines. Use of low-speed vehicles by seasonal delivery personnel is restricted to certain yearly timeframes. (Reference House Bill 405, 2009, Senate Bill 1100, 2009, and Florida Statutes 316.2126, 320.01(42), and 320.0847)
Alternative Fuels Tax
A person operating an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) must purchase an annual decal from the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles in lieu of paying the excise tax on gasoline. Fueling stations are not allowed to fuel an AFV that does not display the proper decal. State and local government AFV fleets are exempt from paying the decal fee. In addition to the state alternative fuel fee imposed by this section, a person fueling a vehicle from their own facility is required to pay a local alternative fuel fee in lieu of each cent of excise tax levied by a county. (Reference Florida Statutes 206.877)
Electric Vehicle (EV) Surcharge Exemption
EVs are protected from insurance surcharges based on factors such as new technology, passenger payload, weight-to-horsepower ratio, and the types of material used to manufacture the vehicle, unless the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation receives actuarial data that determines the surcharges are justified. (Reference Florida Statutes 627.06535)
