Massachusetts government considers bill to encourage hybrids
You know the bandwagon's really rolling when the politicians jump on. Now Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to provide buyers of hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles with a list of goodies including a $2,000 income tax exemption, free tollway transponders, and open access to HOV lanes. In addition, the bill would require that at least half of the state's vehicle fleet run on alternative fuels by 2010.
The bill also proposes an Alternative Fuels Institute at the University of Massachusetts.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Akeem 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
I think that this is a great idea. I am a hybird lover myself and i feel as though it is important to promote their use. With the outrageous prices of gasoline today something must be done. Although i do find it kind of ironic that the vehicles with the lower emmissions and higher mileage are taking up the HOV lanes. What will be done when the goal is met? Will they kick them out?
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010111 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
the use of HOV lanes for hybrids is completely counterproductive to their intended purpose. it's to cut down on congestion by moving the most units of product across a certain distance. NOT to reward someone for buying a hybrid.
hardly anything pisses me off more than a one-person-occupied hybrid. except perhaps seeing a one-person-hybrid in an HOV lane. especially when you consider that in a 3-person-minimum HOV lane there is barely a single car on the road that gets *worse* per unit mileage than a one-person hybrid. *especially* on the highway.
and why just hybrids? what about diesels? they get better highway mileage than most hybrids do. class-comparatively that is.
and how exactly is a 27mpg (highway) single-person Lexus RX400h *better* and *more deserving* of the HOV lane than a 25mpg (highway) 2-person Lexus RX330 which *per unit* is getting a functional 50mpg? 3-people and were looking at a functional 75mpg! and still a *single* person in a 27mpg hybrid gets special privileges? at the detriment to the purpose of the HOV? sure sure... the hybrid would get better functional mileage than the non-hybrid when it has multiple people ... well guess what! THEN they can use the freaking HOV lane!
complete 100% BS.
HOV lanes are for multiple people. period.
(disclaimer : i don't actually even have an HOV lane within a good 500 miles of me... maybe closer to 1200+ honestly...)
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Erik 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
Amen 010111
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Joseph Willemssen 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
010111, you're falling trap to myths. Most hybrids aren't eligible for HOV travel as single-occupancy vehicles.
see this:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm
as well as the details of the recently passed "Transportation Equity" bill (HR 3).
"HOV lanes are for multiple people. period. "
So you must be against HOT lanes, right?
Oh, and the low-emission vehicle exemptions end in 2009, whereas the HOT lanes don't.
"hardly anything pisses me off more than a one-person-occupied hybrid."
Most vehicles are driven by one person. Why do you get pissed at hybrids but not 10 mpg vehicles driven by one person?
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Josh Wardell 10:49PM (12/18/2005)
I can understand it for states that don't sell hybrids, but around here, I wonder if anyone is buying anything other than Priuses. I see several a day. Surprisingly often I'll see one behind the other. And all too often, it's a prius trying to make it up a hill rubbernecking the left lane on the highway. We have a ton of them, no need for further incentive here!
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