CA NEEDS A NEW HYBRID CARPOOL LANE BILL

I'm sure I'll get flamed for asking this but:

Why should any single-occupant car get to drive in the carpool lane? Shouldn't environmentally-conscious Prius drivers be willing to drive in non-carpool lanes so that the lanes can be used by less-environmentally-friendly vehicles carrying more passengers (who can then leave their less environmentally friendly) vehicles at home?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 08:49 AM) [snapback]341819[/snapback]</div>

Don't know about elsewhere, but in San Diego, the car pool lanes would be nearly empty without stickered Priuses and Civics. The other major class of carpool lane denizens seems to be parents bussing their kids to non-neighborhood schools which means they join the commuters enjoying their solitary ride to work.

 

Well, the way that write-up/presentation is worded has the appearance of smelling like bacon. (pork belly)

It sounds like those who currently have the sticker get grandfathered in, without a thought for our future leaders who aren't even of driving age yet, but who will be by 2009. What about them?

What about those who buy this rumored 80 mpg 2008 Prius in 2009... who were not able to buy a hybrid vehicle earlier? If only the current 85,000 are eligible for sticker renewal, doesn't that seem unfair?

I have a sticker, so I'd be part of this priviliged group as proposed, but it doesn't seem fair to those who couldn't afford a new hybrid between 2001 and 2006.

Let's consider an imaginary couple who had to eke another five years out of their 1985 Toyota Tercel in order to keep the checkbook balanced. It's not that they didn't want to make the politically and environmentally correct choice... it's that they financially couldn't. Fast forward to 2009, when all their sacrifices and thrift have paid off in better fortunes for them, and their Tercel finally rusted through the floorboards.

Now, as I read the proposal above, they can't get California's incentive for purchasing a new hybrid that is twice as clean as the hybrids we drive, because they aren't US, the chosen 85,000?

Conversely, what about US. What if we can't afford to change cars every five years? If the battery pack in US spec Priuses (without the JDM EV mod) is eight years, a 2006 model should last for the entire period between now and 2011. Are we to have our stickers taken away come 2008 to make room for the next generation, unless we upgrade vehicles ourselves?

What about those who recognized that they could buy two Ford Foci for the price of one Prius, and yet chose the Prius at twice the price... partly in response to the California and federal HOV lane incentive that pushed them over the fence of their fears of this new technology?

Lot's of question to answer.

 

I believe that the purpose of the HOV stickers is to motivate people to buy hybrids, so they only last a few years while people transition from traditional vehicles to clean air vehicles. As more hybrids are purchased and become more mainstream, there will be less reason for them to have the advantage of driving in the carpool lanes. Hence, the limited number of stickers and years.

Vince

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 09:49 AM) [snapback]341819[/snapback]</div>

Carpool lanes are more about reducing fuel consumption and pollution. One way to do this is to encourage people to share rides and reduce the number of cars that are on the road.

This is why certain high MPG hybrids, electric vehicles, propane vehicles, other alternative fuel vehicles and even motorcycles are allowed in the HOV lanes.

Ken

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 06:49 AM) [snapback]341819[/snapback]</div>

Rather than occupants per vehicle, consider vehicles per driver. Access to the HOV lane is in recognition that a hybrid can get better mileage than three gas guzzlers combined.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kpauley @ Nov 1 2006, 12:35 PM) [snapback]341994[/snapback]</div>

But do people really buy alternative vehicles because they can drive in the carpool lanes? (I'm being serious, not sarcastic--we don't have HOV lanes where I live.)

Maybe I'm misunderstanding. I'm under the impression that there is a finite number of HOV stickers. Once that many are issued, the people who didn't get them can't drive in the HOV lanes. So that means that for every Prius (or other alternative vehicle) that gets a sticker, a (for lack of a better term) gas guzzler doesn't get a sticker. And since the gas guzzler doesn't get a sticker, there is no incentive for the driver to carpool. So in the end, giving HOV stickers to alternative vehicles actually increases the number of gas guzzlers on the road.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 05:49 AM) [snapback]341819[/snapback]</div>

At this crucial time, the carpool lane is a good incentive to encourage car buyers to buy Hybrid who might otherwise not have considered doing so for environmental reasons. The goal is to make Hybrid cars mainstream and not an oddity. When enough cars on the road eventually become Hybrid and/or clean fuel as they must, there will no longer be a need for this incentive, and it will phase out. It's a good temporary incentive for now to get the word out about alternative vehicles and to get more of them on the road.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 01:29 PM) [snapback]342037[/snapback]</div>

Yes, the carpool lane in trafficky areas will push many people over the edge in buying a hybrid. When someone says "Gas would have to cost $4/gallon and the car would have to last me 7 years and 200,000 miles for me to break even on the higher cost of a hybrid" (or whatever the figures are that people spout off), offering to save them 30-45 minutes off a 90-120 minute commute along with a couple grand on their income taxes really does affect purchasing decisions.

Nobody needs a sticker to drive in an HOV lane. You just need 2 or 3 or 4 people (Whatever the type of lane, HOV-2, HOV-3, HOV-4, etc.) You only need a sticker when you want to drive in the lane by yourself, with no one else in the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(parseljc @ Nov 1 2006, 02:52 PM) [snapback]342102[/snapback]</div>

Thank you for this explanation. I understand this a bit better now

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]342115[/snapback]</div>

Agreed. Here in California and especially in Los Angeles, being able to drive solo in the carpool lane can be that one incentive needed to buy Hybrid. Remember, many auto companies are making smaller cars now with increased fuel efficiency which are less expensive, but gas powered nevertheless, however, they don't get the HOV sticker.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Arroyo @ Nov 1 2006, 12:22 AM) [snapback]341778[/snapback]</div>

Pavley has been termed out and will be out of office in a month.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Nov 1 2006, 01:29 PM) [snapback]342037[/snapback]</div>

We'll see. All we have to do is monitor the used Prii sales. If a used Prii is advertising that is already has HOV stickers and if that car commands a higher price than an equal used Prii without stickers....there's your answer. The stickers are in demand.

Personally, I'm hoping the stickers *do* increase value. If I decide to trade in my 2005 on a 2009, the stickers go with the car. I might be willing to give them up for 80 mpg.