Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrids/Alternative
California HOV lane exemption for hybrids so popular that program may end
California's Department of Motor
Vehicles says that consumer response to the government's issuance of exemption stickers for hybrid vehicles has been
such a runaway success story that it may have to shut the green loophole as early as this March. The program, designed
to encourage environmentally-aware motoring affords hybrid commuters the privilege of driving in designated High
Occupancy Vehicle lanes (read: car pool) without passengers.
But California officials say they've been administering about 200 such stickers a day, and once Caltrans issues 50,000 decals, it will reassess the program and its impact on HOV-lane congestion.
If the 90-day study reveals that HOV lanes are packed like sardines, it could call off the program altogether as soon as this summer.
[Source: MediaNewsGroup via Daily Democrat]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Phil L. 11:03AM (1/30/2006)
You'll see hybrid tax breaks do the same disappearing act...
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Byron 11:21AM (1/30/2006)
Curious response by California DMV. My understanding is for vechicle's of the same weight and engine size, there is little to no difference in actual highway fuel mileage between hybrids and conventional cars. Its the start and stop of city driving where the differences are clear. Regenerative braking, and electric assist from stop are non-issues in highway cruising. A similarly effective incentive might be to provide tax and/or HOV incentives for 4 cylinder cars, cars under 3,000 pounds and diesels. All may be too difficult or costly to administer. In the end the easiest, but most difficult politically, is to add a greater tax on every gallon of gasoline.
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Claudia 1:27PM (3/14/2008)
Well sad my friend. The logic behind institiuting a much higher gas tax is unquestionable, but so if the political difficulty and the problems of inequity that arise.
One thing I think is worth mentioning is that, although you are right that it is their start-stop driving that makes hybrids more efficient, there is another feature that makes them worthy of special treatment: that is the actual pollutants they emit. This is in addition to the low greenhouse gas emissions that are the result of high gas mileage; they actually put out less of the other polluting (but not necessarily greehouse) gases as well.
But in any case, I agree that the highway-based incentive might not be the most reasonable...even though I would like to ignore that since I drive a hybrid.
Carlos 11:23AM (1/30/2006)
The carpool lanes are still relatively free flowing. Not free enough to go 80, but that's a bad idea anyway given how people pull into the carpool lane to pass or whatever.
During the summers we get lots of "spare the air" days where the smog is noticeable to the eyes and nose, so I'm all for encouraging PZEV vehicles... whether they're hybrids or not.
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Erik 11:45AM (1/30/2006)
This is great news. HOV stands for HIGH OCCUPANCY Vehicle, not hybrid vehicle.
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Marc 12:41PM (1/30/2006)
Carpool lanes are not about fuel economy. That argument does not hold up on this one.
Carpool lanes exist to relieve traffic congestion and help with air quality. Hybrids are allowed in carpools lanes because of their extremely low emissions, they obviously are not helping with congestion when there is only one occupant in the car. California highly values clean air vehicles, we see the need tangibly. This is why we don't have the same diesels the rest of the country gets, why horsepower ratings for some vehicles are lower in CA, why we have to get our cars "smogged." Allowing ulta-clean hybrids in carpool lnaes is just one more of the ways that the state encourages the production and purchase of low emissions vehicles. (I don't know why this program has not been extended to PZEV's).
If the DOT has discovered that this program has created too much of a burden on carpools lanes efficiency at accomplishing its other task (reducing traffic congestion), then it is realistic to halt it. That does not mean the program has been wrong, just that it is no longer feasible.
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M1EK 12:44PM (1/30/2006)
Byron,
You may be technically correct but your conclusion is faulty - the fact that a Prius can be driven with such a small gas engine means that its highway fuel economy far exceeds that of any other midsize car (even diesel competitors). Likewise with Civic Hybrid.
http://mdahmus.monkeysystems.com/blog/archives/000247.html
(link shows that in Consumer Reports' test, the Civic Hybrid barely beats the Jetta TDI on the highway; the Prius beats both by a bigger margin).
Your conclusion would only follow if it were feasible to drive similar cars on the highway with similar sized gas-only engines, and, frankly, it's not. You couldn't practically haul around a new Camry with the gas engine in a Prius.
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Dustin Tarditi 1:23PM (1/30/2006)
If they really cared they would carpool in their beloved hybrid vehicles.
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iQuack 2:05PM (1/30/2006)
Usually when you want better service or a superior product you pay more for it.
Maybe higher priced fast lanes make more sense to control traffic on freeways: pay more money, but get where you're going faster in less congested traffic.
If the pricier lanes fill up, just raise the price. Yes, there would be the usual cries from the poor lobby, but the pricing mechanism works for almost everything else, so why not apply it to toll roads?
For bureaucrats to decide what cars are good or bad is a losing game IMO.
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zoobazz 2:23PM (1/30/2006)
Thank goodness they're getting rid of it. It was a dumb idea in my opinion. What's the major advantage of hybrids regarding exhaust emissions? Sitting. That's right, they are best when they are STUCK in traffic as their engine turns off. Letting them cruise in the HOV doesn't allow the state to take advantage of this major design.
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rip 3:24PM (1/30/2006)
This law is awful. It sounds good but in reality is biased and of little worth.
For one thing, its deceptive. People think its for all hybrids. In reality its only for hybrids that get over 45mpg. Which means only 3 qualify: the Prius, Civic, and Insight. All the other hybrids are excluded. Why not include all hybrids? And why not incude ALL cars that get over 45mpg?
For another, like others have said, driving a Prius in the hov lane does very little to reduce smog. It helps but not as much as driving a gas civic with 3 people in it. 3 people in one car getting ~40mpg is a lot better for the environment than 1 person in a car getting ~50mpg.
This is nothing but a healdine grab by the politian that wrote the law. Its basically worthless.
California would be a lot better served outlawing 2-stroke leaf blowers. Or banning or severly restricting pre-emission vehicle usuage. Or upgrading the bus fleet so 1960's era busses are finally retired. And actually properly enforcing the laughable "California smog emissions" requirements and laws. Or requiring that people keep their car somewhat tuned... most other states require yearly inspections. California requires a smog check every 2 years, if at all. FYI, my car hasn't had any sort of inspection at all, for about 5 years, because its exempt. NO emissions check, or basic safety checks for that matter.
I keep my car in tune, but I really have no idea what its current emissions are. Neither does the state of California since they don't check it.
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Puff Chippy 3:59PM (1/30/2006)
If they really wanted to help congestion they'd open these lanes up to ALL traffic so that lane usage could be maximized. What a waste to have all those cars idling in traffic when the HOV lane goes half utilized.
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SOhp101 4:57PM (1/30/2006)
I'm sorry, but the idea of giving hybrid vehicle owners access to the HOV lane is utterly retarded. The government gives way too many incentives to own a hybrid when simply the 'cool' factor of owning one already makes hybrids sell like hotcakes.
Then the fact that there's thousands of dollars in tax refunds available for a hybrid owner makes it even better to own one. With all the incentives that the government gives to hybrid owners, the government might as well make a freeway exclusively for them.
The HOV access for hybrids was stupid from the start, and they'd better repeal it ASAP. The idea of giving people with smog polluting cars (such as cars that are 10+ years old) a tax break to buy a new, less smog emitting vehicle after turning in their old one is a MUCH better alternative than this, IMO.
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the chad 3:15AM (1/31/2006)
11, Puff Chippy:
Wow, someone with a brain! I live in the SF Bay Area and it is SO STUPID to see millions of cars sitting there blowing gas out their tailpipes at a dead stop for 5 lanes across with about 10 cars in the HOV lane. Seeing as years later, the regular lanes are just as congested, and the HOVs just as wide-opened, obviously the idea of getting extremely busy people with radically different lifestyles to carpool together IS NOT WORKING! Same with the brilliant meter lights on the freeway entrances-NUMEROUS probs w/ that: First, during commute you have mile-long lines of people idling blowing gas out with, of course, an empty HOV lane. Then, they have to waste more gas to accelerate up to speed to be able to safely merge. Talk about shooting youself in the foot-environmentalists are so stupid. HOV lanes (&meter lights) really do need to be opened to all if they REALLY cared about the environment. And the idea of giving passes to hybrids is among the least-thought out, non-sensical ideas I've seen.
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Joel A 4:09AM (1/31/2006)
Well, my spouse and I won't be adding that Civic hybrid as our next car.
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iQuack 4:23AM (1/31/2006)
14. "Well, my spouse and I won't be adding that Civic hybrid as our next car."
Maybe not the Civic hybrid, but you'd be wise to consider the non-hybrid Civic which is much less costly and is still among the most economical cars available. And the Civic sans hybrid is better when you think about it. Why pay in advance for more gas than you're likely to consume in years?
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Ted K 10:04AM (1/31/2006)
THANK YOU (DEITY)
the whole point of carpool lanes is to reduce traffic by reducing the number of CARS on the road. petrol consumption and smog have NOTHING to do with it.
please, soon as possible, get these wannabe-green bozos in their overpriced luxo-gadget cruisers back into traffic with the rest of the folks who can't seem to find someone to ride to work with.
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Deyner 1:09AM (2/01/2006)
Hybrids... according to several reviews only end up being good for the environment. As an owner you pay a premium over non-hybrid counter parts. I am willing to accept that, if it is going to help drastically reduce emmissions. Many of the hybrid users I know carpool not only that but when they do drive in the carpool alone, they optimize their pace so that they do engage the electric system as much as possible, as I do. So it is not necessary to be stuck in traffic to take advantage of the hybrid system. In the carpool lane I see more NON-HYBRID single riders, risking a ticket, than I see hybrids that I know are more advance in emmitting less pollutants. Getting to be in the HOV lane it's just a bonus, I forgo the HOV lane sometimes just so that I can drive at the speed limit and avoid the morning rush-carpool lane pushers-that need to be somewhere NOW. Thus not only getting way better mileage but also as I said before creating less pollution by using the electric power more often. Hybrid people take this seriously, is an effort, a statement to show that there are other ways. HOV access is just a super bonus for your effort.
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Erin P. 2:12PM (2/01/2006)
This country is addicted to foreign oil. Our country has recently been far too happy go lucky with regards to having an energy policy even though our daily lives depend on having energy just as much as having food to eat. As a country, anything we can do to encourage people to use efficient vehicles must be maximized. There are huge advantages for everyone coming from people who use ultra efficient cars - Air quality for everyone, reduced demand for foreign oil which lowers demand and prices for everyone. Hybrid cars being used benefit everyone, not just the drivers of the hybrids. The government should support their use in every way possible.
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Eric 1:48AM (3/14/2006)
I bought a dedicated Natural Gas vehicle. I got tired of sitting in traffic , and getting screwed by the gasoline companies. Sure a hybrid gets the job done .....but they are on the way out. See any electric cars lately ? That's because grants and inscentives have run out. It's only a matter of time before hybrids expire too.
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