The Hybrid HOV concept (allowing hybrid vehicles onto High Occupancy Vehicle lanes with only one person) is a very complicated one, far more complicated, in fact, than most of the press have let on (see our incentives section for a list of states who have adopted or are considering this). We’re cooking up a Hybrid Watchdog that will lay out the full case - pro and con - on the issue. Stay tuned on that one.
In the meantime, here’s an interesting little nugget on this coming out of the just-passed Transportation Bill (HR.3). Congress is looking at the HOV issue because, technically, states that allow hybrids to drive in HOV lanes are in violation of federal law. However, HR3 would provide waivers for certain vehicles, if signed into law. In the House version, only vehicles (note I say “vehicle” and not “hybrid” because there is no actual requirement that the auto use hybrid technology) that get at least an EPA-estimated 45mpg will be permitted to get the waiver. When it went to the Senate, Jim Talent of Missouri tried first to convince his colleagues that any vehicle that achieves at least 10 percent better gas mileage than the standard model be allowed in the HOV lanes. However, the 10% clause would allow hollow hybrids like the GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado pickups to be included.
Even if it was not Senator Talent’s intent, this was another example of how true hybrids can be undermined, sending a bogus message to consumers that a 1 or 2 mpg fuel economy improvement is something to reward.
In the end, the Senate provision would open HOV lanes to vehicles that achieve at least a 50 percent increase in fuel economy in the city or a 25 percent increase in fuel economy in combined city-highway miles over the non-hybrid model, regardless of the number of passengers. This is better than the “10 percent solution”, but still opens up a Pandora’s box of potential abuses. Not to mention the fact that both the House and Senate language do not even consider smog-forming emissions—with hybrids you don’t have to trade off fuel economy and smog, but instead of recognizing this fact, these bills would allow some higher mpg vehicles into HOV lanes despite the fact that they are among the dirtiest vehicles permitted by law (4-10 times dirtier than many of the hybrids on the road today).
We will keep you posted on how this all turns out, but for now, watch for details on the pros and cons of letting hybrids in HOV lanes in our upcoming Hybrid Watchdog.
Posted By: ScottN & Don
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