I have a question cocerning the carpool lane. On the DMV websitr there's a sign that says Hybrids decal program ended on July 1, 2011. So that mean Prius' drivers got the boot from the hov lane? I never got a chance to sign up for the sticker but now that I'm interested it seems I no longer have the op. As for the White Clean Air Stickers it says they are issued according to the following criteria: A vehicle that meets California’s super ultra–low emission vehicle (SULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal inherently low–emission vehicle (ILEV) evaporative emission standard. A 2004 model-year or older vehicle that meets the California ultra–low emission vehicle (ULEV) standard for exhaust emissions and the federal ILEV standard. What vehicles would those apply to? Is there just no way for us to get in the hov lane any more?
Eligible Vehicles - Single Occupant Carpool Lane Use Stickers has the list of cars eligible for white or green HOV stickers. Presumably, the '12 Plug-in Prius aka PiP will be eligible for the green stickers. The 2010 PiP listed there were the demo vehicles and not an actual product. The yellow ones (also indicated there) are no longer valid. (I have the now useless yellow ones, as I signed up for them in Jan or Feb 06.)
You will need a new Toyota issued Plug-In Prius - the new green sticker for Plug-ins starts on Jan 2012. Good luck getting one as I have heard the production run will be small. You can buy a Nissan Leaf for a max of 100 miles range for a white sticker...
Also, it's not like you just barely missed your window of opportunity here - the last of the 85,000 yellow stickers was issued in about January of 2007; the July 1, 2011 date is when all the yellow ones expired, and were kicked out of the HOV lane.
Besides the above, the only other notable readily available vehicle eligible is the CNG powered Honda Civic GX. Otherwise, go through the rest of the list and try your luck at getting any of the rest of them... From what I've gathered on MNL, counting on 100 miles of range on the Leaf is REALLY pushing it, esp. if it involves freeway driving at say 65+ mph.
I seriously doubt it, unless you submitted it to CARB to test whether it meets whatever their criteria are. A 2nd gen Prius equipped w/HyMotion or Enginer is more limited in capabilities and has a bunch of limitations vs. the production PiP. Same goes w/a 3rd gen w/Enginer.
You can even get one of the big ol' Crown Vic's .... or one of several Vans that have been converted to CNG ... there are several of those running around with white stickers ... if your only goal is solo car pool lane driving .
