I am happy to say that I am no longer a scofflaw or, worse yet, a criminal. My BMW i3 has a valid registration sticker on its license plate!
As I discussed in a video blog a few weeks ago, the gasoline engine range extender prevented me from passing the emissions test necessary to get my registration renewed. The law changed in North Carolina on April 1st – now vehicles less than 3 years old, with fewer than 70,000 miles driven, no longer need to take the emissions test. The change has nothing to do with electric cars, just new vehicles in general.
So, I’m off the hook, but the bigger issue remains in NC and other states. With luck, that will get sorted out before it becomes a problem for me in a couple of years. In the meantime, if you are considering a vehicle like the BMW i3 with a range extender, you should look into the laws for your state and ask your car dealer some questions. I know I wish I had!
