The village board voted 5-2 Monday to give free parking for the next two years to anyone driving an electric vehicle. Officials hope the incentive will encourage people to think green the next time they buy a car.
Oak Park is offering free vehicle stickers and free parking in public lots and garages to anyone driving an electric car. Oak Park will lose little in revenues, and they hope the move will lead to increased investment in the community.
Trustees Ray Johnson and John Hedges voted no. Oak Park has a multi-million dollar deficit in its parking fund, and people who can afford a $40,000 electric car don’t need free parking, they said. Plus the feds are already offering a $7,000 tax incentive to buy such vehicles.
The program will start Jan. 1 and end sunset Dec. 31, 2012.
