Hybrids to get HOV status everywhere

[Bob Allen]

An article in the morning paper says that soon the EPA will draft a regulation that will give most hybrids single occupant access to the HOV lanes. To qualify, a vehicle must get at least 50% better mileage in city driving than its gasoline counterpart OR at least 25% better combined city/highway mileage over its conventional counterpart. The cars included in the HOV exemption are:
Honda Civic, Accord
Toyota Prius, Highlander
Ford Escape and Lincoln Mariner

I know there's controversy as to whether single occupant vehicles should ever warrant HOV status since the purpose of the HOV lanes is to reduce the number of vehicles and a Prius takes up as much space as a Camry.
Until there are sufficient hybrids on the roads that granting them HOV status would actually clog the HOV lanes, I think it's a good idea for EPA to support this alternative technology. Our present transportation nexus coupled with the housing location/demographics means that the automobile will be a mainstay for many commuters because most workers can't afford to live within (existing) rapid transit access to their jobs.

To avoid possible road rage and reporting of hybrid drivers to the call in violator hotline, I think there should be some sort of ID badge on the car; this is a necessity since all but the Prius look virtually identical to their ICE only counterparts.

[bgdrewsif]

This is a joke post right?

[DGH]

See top stories at: http://www.epa.gov/

[hschuck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Angel Flight Pilot @ May 17 2007, 12:41 PM) [snapback]444359[/snapback]</div>

. . . . . .To avoid possible road rage and reporting of hybrid drivers to the call in violator hotline, I think there should be some sort of ID badge on the car; this is a necessity since all but the Prius look virtually identical to their ICE only counterparts.
[/b]

Quote from the proposed regularty announcement :

"Labeling Requirements
All vehicles certified as low emission and energy-efficient must be appropriately labeled for use in HOV facilities. States are responsible for labeling the vehicles. Existing labels, such as decals or license plates, are acceptable for continued use."

[pewd]

I intrepret this a bit differently.

>"...enforced by the individual states that choose to adopt these requirements"

If I'm reading this correctly, this will be epa certification of a vehicle, not the epa telling the states that they have to allow HOV access. It will still be up to individual states to implement, or not implement, as they choose. Given the environment here in Texas, I'd imagine I'll be waiting a long time for single occupant HOV lane access in my Prius. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not holding my breadth.

[priusmaybe]

You would think Georgia, with Atlanta being one of the most traffic congested and polluted cities in the US, might encourage purchasing and driving a Hybrid. This state is so redneck. I bet there are more trucks and SUVs than most places. All old cars get to have free pass on tags and emissions, no matter how much they pollute.

It is funny that you pay a Gas Guzzler Tax on some vehicles when you buy them, but get no break to try to conserve energy and emissions.

People are going to need some incentives to try new technology.

[jeremyandmelissa]

I live in Miami. Florida currently allows hybrid vehicles (most models if not all) to drive in the HOV lanes. You must first get an HOV exempt sticker to ensure the cops don't pull you over for only having one driver. I'm not sure of the registration process, but the sticker itself looks pretty hideous. It's big and neon green and looks a bit like the transformers logo from the 80s.

[MikeSF]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Angel Flight Pilot @ May 17 2007, 12:41 PM) [snapback]444359[/snapback]</div>

An article in the morning paper says that soon the EPA will draft a regulation that will give most hybrids single occupant access to the HOV lanes. To qualify, a vehicle must get at least 50% better mileage in city driving than its gasoline counterpart OR at least 25% better combined city/highway mileage over its conventional counterpart. The cars included in the HOV exemption are:
Honda Civic, Accord
Toyota Prius, Highlander
Ford Escape and Lincoln Mariner

[/b]

The honda accord qualifies?? I thought it got something like 2mpg more than the non-hybrid version.


I don't think I agree with those SUVs on there though. It'll get really bad in carpool lanes if the do this, as it stands in California those SUVs are not allowed. The Civic & Prius are the only two IIRC (well ones still in production)

[hschuck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeSF @ May 17 2007, 05:28 PM) [snapback]444519[/snapback]</div>

The honda accord qualifies?? I thought it got something like 2mpg more than the non-hybrid version.
I don't think I agree with those SUVs on there though. It'll get really bad in carpool lanes if the do this, as it stands in California those SUVs are not allowed. The Civic & Prius are the only two IIRC (well ones still in production)
[/b]

Neither the epa press release or the regulatory notice on the epa site states which vehiciles are covered. The epa is providing the minimum criteria for vehicles that are included. Without some authenification I would not accept that list as correct.

[rigormortis]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The Bransons @ May 17 2007, 07:04 PM) [snapback]444510[/snapback]</div>

I live in Miami. Florida currently allows hybrid vehicles (most models if not all) to drive in the HOV lanes. You must first get an HOV exempt sticker to ensure the cops don't pull you over for only having one driver. I'm not sure of the registration process, but the sticker itself looks pretty hideous. It's big and neon green and looks a bit like the transformers logo from the 80s.
[/b]

do u got a link to a pic of the sticker id like to see it