Autoblog

California HOV access could be extended 10 years for green cars

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Electric

A few years ago it was not uncommon to hear a Toyota Prius buyer say, "I got it for the sticker." The yellow sticker they were referring to allowed the driver to use the High Occupancy Vehicle (carpool) lane even when alone in the car which, as every other LA driver knows, led to the frequent sight of a Prius with a sole occupant zooming by at 94 miles per hour along the center barrier.

That dispensation for traditional hybrids ended in 2011, but there are both white and green stickers that remain good for sole-occupant HOV use until 2015. The white stickers can be used for battery electric, natural gas and hydrogen fuel-cell cars, green stickers are for plug-in hybrids and those with range-extending internal combustion engines. A California assemblyman has introduced a bill that would push the expiration date for those kinds of cars back ten years, to January 1, 2025.

The allotment of white stickers isn't capped, but the legislation dictates that no more than 40,000 green stickers can be distributed and so far 9,000 of that tally has been used. It was said that when it came to reselling a used Prius that had a yellow sticker, it was worth $1,500 more than one without - not bad for an investment that cost nothing on the front end.

California HOV access could be extended 10 years for green cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: Corporations are not people in carpool lanes

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

Jonathon Friedman had his day in a San Francisco court, then Jurist Frank Drago had his say, declaring Friedman guilty. The case centered on a sheaf of corporation papers that Friedman used to make a statement about corporate 'personhood.' Driving in a carpool lane in the Bay Area, Friedman was pulled over for not having at least two people in the car. His response was to show the officer his business papers and, citing US Supreme Court decisions that have affirmed that corporations are people, said he indeed did have two people in the car and so was, in fact, carpooling.

The case went before the traffic referee, and the officer who issued the ticket even showed up to defend it. Friedman's attorney, Ford Greene, pointed to the "constitutionally vague" correlation between the California vehicle code that defines a person as "natural persons and corporations" and the carpool lane signs that demands cars in the High Occupancy Vehicle lane be occupied by "two or more persons."

The jurist wasn't interested in all that "novel" malarkey. Drago said, "Common sense says carrying a sheath of papers in the front seat does not relieve traffic congestion," then declared Friedman guilty. Now, we're not constitutional law scholars, but it's been a while since we heard "common sense" used as the sole litmus test for extracting the intention of a law and assigning guilt - and we wonder if that's the same common sense that was used to declare corporations people in the first place.

No matter, Friedman said he expected to lose, and that he'll be appealing the ruling within 30 days.

Update: Corporations are not people in carpool lanes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California man using "corporations are people" argument to challenge HOV lane ticket

Zach Bowman — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

A driver in San Rafael, California is attempting to appeal a traffic citation for driving alone in a High Occupancy Vehicle lane. Jonathan Frieman and his attorney, Ford Greene, argue that since Frieman had corporate incorporation papers in his car when he was stopped by an officer, he was actually carpooling at the time. Technically, the state of California's definition of personhood includes both "natural persons and corporations." But Frieman's out to do more than just skirt a $478 traffic ticket with a little fancy legal footwork.

He's sworn to chase the case all the way to the Supreme Court should the first trial not go his way in an attempt to "expose the impracticality of corporate personhood." If Frieman eventually wins his case, the victory could have serious implications on the US Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.

While the US legal system has weighed the benefits and drawbacks of corporate personhood for years, the issue became more clear in 2010 when the Supreme Court ruled that restricting corporate political spending violated the First Amendment. Granting corporations constitutional rights implies the entities themselves have personhood.

California man using "corporations are people" argument to challenge HOV lane ticket originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus Electric qualifies for California HOV lane access, extra $2,500 off

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hatchback, Ford, Electric

Following in the footsteps of the Chevrolet Volt and the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the 105-MPGe 2012 Ford Focus Electric has been granted HOV lane access in California by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB not only gave the upcoming all-electric vehicle the ability to let people drive alone in the High Occupancy Vehicle lane but also qualified it for an incentive that affords buyers an extra $2,500 off through the state's Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP).

With an official range of 76 miles, the Focus EV is what Ford calls the "most fuel-efficient five-passenger car" in the States. As it has in other marketing material, today's press release announcing the HOV designation, Ford is touting ways its car beats the Nissan Leaf (hey, it "only" gets 73 official miles, remember?), as you can read after the jump. For more on the controversial HOV lane situation in California, check out this article from AutoblogGreen contributor Chelsea Sexton.

Continue reading Ford Focus Electric qualifies for California HOV lane access, extra $2,500 off

Ford Focus Electric qualifies for California HOV lane access, extra $2,500 off originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt ready for California HOV access, extra $1,500 in rebates *UPDATED

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:14:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Electric

The Chevy Volt may be able to travel about 40 miles without emitting a gram of CO2, but the car isn't clean enough to qualify for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane access in California. Make that wasn't clean enough.

Today, GM announced that California dealers are now taking orders for an "Enhanced, Advanced Technology - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle" (enhAT-PZEV) version of the Volt.
We've known this Volt would be coming for over a year, and it puts us one step closer to the E85-capable Volt that was promised, as well.

The new Volt's owner will be "eligible to apply for one of 40,000 available HOV lane stickers" handed out on a first-apply, first-served basis.

The enhAT-PZEV lower-emissions Volt will be the standard version in California starting early next year but it doesn't come with the coveted HOV sticker. All it means is that new Volt's owner will be "eligible to apply for one of 40,000 available HOV lane stickers" handed out on a first-apply, first-served basis. The enhAT-PZEV Volt is also eligible for an extra $1,500 worth of rebates from California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.

When we first heard about the enhAT-PZEV last year, we were told the Volt's standard 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty would need to be upgraded to 10-year, 150,000-mile warranty to qualify for enhAT-PZEV status. GM's press release doesn't mention any change to the warranty, so we'll need to follow up on this. UPDATE: GM confirmed that the enhAT-PZEV has the better, longer warranty, as required by the HOV access regulations).

The powertrain changes feature a modified engine and exhaust components, including a "secondary air-injection pump that streams ambient air into the exhaust stream to increase its ability to remove pollutants." This took GM engineers a while to get right, but what's ironic is that anyone can get "access" to those HOV lanes by carpooling. After all, the entire point of HOV lanes is to put more people in fewer cars, right? Plus, there is the argument that banning green cars like hybrids from HOV lanes slows everyone down.

Continue reading Chevy Volt ready for California HOV access, extra $1,500 in rebates *UPDATED

Chevy Volt ready for California HOV access, extra $1,500 in rebates *UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Natural gas Honda Civic GX retains California HOV lane access

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Honda

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas - Click above for high-res image gallery

Californians seeking access to the state's High Occupancy Vehicle lanes need look no further than the Honda Civic GX, a compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle that's permitted to use HOV lanes until January 2015.

The Honda, which is the only CNG-fueled light-duty passenger vehicle available in the U.S., earns Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV) status and therefore qualifies for California's white sticker. These stickers are available in unlimited quantities, unlike the state's yellow stickers that expired on July 1, 2011.

The CNG-burnin' 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas will launch in the fall and gets, according to Honda's estimates, 27/38/31 miles per gasoline gallon equivalent (that's city/highway/combined). Compared to the outgoing 2011 model, city fuel economy improves by 12.5 percent, and highway mileage is up 5.5 percent.

It's important to note that the latest Civic Hybrid, although it does indeed earn darn good fuel efficiency marks, does not qualify for HOV lane usage.

So, drivers in California seeking access to HOV lanes have a handful of options, including snatching up a a late model Civic GX, waiting for the upcoming Civic Natural Gas, buying a Nissan Leaf or hunting down one of these remaining qualified vehicles.

Continue reading PSA: Natural gas Honda Civic GX retains California HOV lane access

PSA: Natural gas Honda Civic GX retains California HOV lane access originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrids rejoin California gridlock as HOV stickers expire today

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal

The vehicles are no longer novel, their yellow stickers have faded from years of exposure to the sun and, after six years of enjoying the privilege, it's now time for California's hybrid owners to suffer with the rest of us in the state's traffic-clogged non-High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.

Starting today, July 1, some 85,000 yellow stickers issued to owners of certain hybrid vehicles in California expire. Now these hybrids have to fall in line with gas-guzzlers, truckers and the millions of other vehicles that sit at a dead stop in the "regular" lanes of California's highways and watch in envy as carpoolers whiz by at 55-plus miles per hour in dedicated HOV lanes.

Only three hybrid vehicles - Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid - qualified (rated 45-plus miles per gallon) for the yellow stickers. Now, owners who choose to cruise solo in HOV lanes in those gas-sipping hybrids will face steep fines.

Hybrids rejoin California gridlock as HOV stickers expire today originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Volt will not be eligible for HOV-lane access until mid-2012

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Nissan, Electric

Prospective owners of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf shouldn't get too excited about driving in California carpool lanes as soon as they take delivery. Late Tuesday night California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 535 into law, extending access to the high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes to certain very low and zero emissions vehicles. This new class of vehicles known as Enhanced Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (enh-ATPZEVs) and includes plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles like the Leaf and Toyota's Prius PHEV.

Unfortunately, there are some caveats. SB 535 doesn't take effect until January 1, 2012 and even then only 40,000 of the special stickers needed for HOV access will be made available. In order to qualify, the vehicle has to be rated as an enh-ATPZEV, which brings up the second problem for Volt drivers. A General Motors spokesperson confirmed that the 2011 and 2012 Volt will not be enh-ATPZEV certified. The requirements to earn the enh-ATPZEV label are significantly tougher than the standard ATPZEV. Given the escalated development of the Volt, GM didn't have enough time to calibrate and verify that the plug-in hybrid would meet the standard over a 10-year/150,000-mile period.

That's also why the Volt battery only has the eight-year/100,000-mile warranty required for the non-enhanced ATPZEV. GM spokesman Rob Peterson verified that the Volt will be updated to enh-ATPZEV in mid-2012 when the 2013 model is introduced. In the meantime, you'll just to make sure to bring a friend if you want to ride in the carpool lane.

UPDATE: We just got word from Nissan that the Leaf is eligible for the All Access stickers under a previous bill passed (AB 1500) earlier this year. That means if you take delivery of a Leaf today, you can be flying in the HOV lanes tomorrow.

[Source: General Motors]

Chevrolet Volt will not be eligible for HOV-lane access until mid-2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf allowed to use California HOV lanes

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

California commuters will either celebrate or curse SB 535, a new law that extends hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles' usage of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the Golden State.

Introduced by Sen. Leland Yee and signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new law expands the ability for hybrid, electric and natural-gas powered vehicles fitted with the ubiquitous yellow bumper stickers to drive solo in the carpool lanes during designated hours. Additionally, it increases the number of permits to 40,000 and widens the eligible vehicles to include the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and the Nissan Leaf EV.

Some lawmakers opposed the bill, citing that California's carpool lanes are already congested with alt-fuel vehicles and additional permits will exacerbate the issue. And this shouldn't come as a surprise, but General Motors sponsored the bill.

[Source: LA Times]

Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf allowed to use California HOV lanes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CarPool Kenny eases you into HOV lane the illegal way

Dan Roth — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:54:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc.

We're surprised that this gag can be retailed without disclaimers. CarPool Kenny is an inflatable head and torso that is marketed on the premise that you can cruise the carpool lane in passengerless peace, your inflatable pal offering impunity. People have tried this, and many have had their ruse detected. When you do eventually get hooked by the long arm of the law, it's going cost a lot more than this $20 useless hunk of plastic. Think hundreds.

Your odds of getting caught are likely rather high, since police officers tend to operate on the assumption that all is not what it seems, and Kenny looks so fake that he's just asking to get busted. Our own healthy sense of schadenfreude would kick into overdrive if we cruised by a schmuck whose bluff got called.

Using one of these things to circumvent the rules just means you'll bypass a jam and have to attend to being productive sooner than the rest of us left surfing for that mythical NPR station that's not fund-raising.

Thanks, Jason, for the tip.

CarPool Kenny eases you into HOV lane the illegal way originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hybrid sales inelastic despite surging gas prices

Chris Paukert — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:26:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrid, Green, Honda, Toyota

Despite a conspicuous rise in gas prices over the last three months, the demand for hybrids isn't budging.

According to analysts cited in a new Reuters article, consumers aren't being swayed by increases in fuel economy, available tax credits and in some areas, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane privileges that hybrid ownership offers. The reason? Most cite a reluctance to pay the up-front premium of around $3,000, while others believe would-be buyers are turned off by hybrid vehicles' added complexity and potential long-term costs.

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports magazine worked out ownership costs over five years and 75,000 miles for a number of hybrids, determining that only the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius saved owners any money (the former scrimped just $400 and latter $300). More to the point, others cost thousands more over the long haul.

[Sources: Reuters; Honda UK]

Hybrid sales inelastic despite surging gas prices originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: San Francisco's HOV lanes increase traffic congestion

Chris Paukert — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

A new study of San Francisco's high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes has revealed something disturbing: more congestion. According to researchers at UC Berkeley and Cal State University, East Bay, in a 100 mile sample section of freeway, HOV lanes have counter-intuitively led to an increase in traffic congestion.

The study utilized data collected from sensors embedded in the pavement over 4.5 years between 2001 and 2005. As San Francisco's HOV lanes are only active for 8-10 hours per day, traffic could be measured both with and without the restriction in place, allowing for the comparison.

What they found was that not only was there no increase in carpooling, but that that when HOV lanes were 'active', traffic capacity decreased by 20-percent by increasing congestion on other lanes. A report from 2005 also noted that in areas where HOV lanes are not separated from general traffic, accident rates increase by some 50-percent.

[Sources: TheNewspaper.com, CalAcademy.org]

Study: San Francisco's HOV lanes increase traffic congestion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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