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Honda's Hybrid Priority Parking spots will also be available for other Hybrid brands like Toyota Prius and Lexus hybrids.
Hybrid cars will temporarily get priority parking at Sydney and Melbourne airports under a scheme being rolled out by Honda.
The Japanese carmaker – which offers a hybrid in its Civic line-up, soon to be followed here by the return of the hybrid Insight — will over the next few months introduce Hybrid Priority Parking spots at both airports, and at a major Melbourne shopping centre.
And happily for owners of the hybrid Toyota Prius and the various Lexus hybrids, it seems the spaces are available for other brands to use.
The priority parking will be available at Melbourne Central shopping complex from Monday 11 May to Saturday 23 May, with the Melbourne Airport spots to follow soon after and Sydney Airport later this year.
Three car parks will be available for hybrids, but their placement is still being negotiated.
“Due to our long history in hybrid technology, it is only fitting that Honda is first to reward our hybrid drivers,” Honda Australia’s senior director Lindsay Smalley says.
“Honda is an industry leader in producing low emission vehicles, dating back to the original Civic in 1972 with its ultra-clean CVCC engine. Since then, Honda has introduced hybrid and natural gas powered cars all over the world and recently launched its 100 per cent emissions-free car, the FCX Clarity.”
But Honda is not the first to reward hybrid drivers with priority parking.
Lexus got there first with its original LS luxury car, which was given priority parking at the Sydney Opera Centre, the Festival Centre in Adelaide and the Melbourne Arts Centre in 1990.
Westfield has been doing a rollout for hybrid spots, while the Darling Harbour exhibition centre in Sydney also has priority parking for hybrid cars.
Westfield corporate affairs manager Julia Clarke says four hybrid car parking bays have been installed at the Chatswood and Hornsby centres in recognition that some shoppers have adopted new car technology that is more environmentally friendly. The bays have been in place for around 5 months, and to date have been well received - although it is still early days, she says.
"We’ll continue to review and at this stage have announced no confirmed plans to introduce at any other centres," Clarke says.
