Plug In Prius latest email 8/17/2011 - (not much new, just sharing)

Because the requirement is eAT-PZEV. AT-PZEV access to HOV lanes was expired because they become too common (mainstream success).

You avoided my prevois question.

 

How about limiting HOV access to vehicles that have freaking people in them?

4 dudes in a 15mpg truck > a prius.

6 dudes in a 20mpg minivan > an EV.

Limit it to actual vehicles carrying actual people and let people buy them because they want a car that is better for the enviro and their pocketbook not just a free pass down a restricted lane.

On a happier note, I finally got an email so it seems like it is not getting blocked anymore.

 

3 dudes in 15 MPG truck still consume more gas than one dude in 50 MPG Prius. In term of emission, I am sure Prius would emit less than 1/3 of the truck.

In that case, why should the truck be allowed but not the Prius? Why is a single rider on a motorcycle allowed (still?) as well?

 

Yea, so that more drivers can ride trucks or minivans full of fake HOV passengers!
Is This the World's Worst Fake HOV Lane Passenger? (SURVEY) - Seattle News - The Daily Weekly

 

With this economy, I fully expect to see "unemployed workers" lined up on freeway entrance ramps with signs "ride along passenger for HOV lane access, $5". They take a subway/bus back... (maybe $10, not sure of the pricing, it would depend on the local market/demand )

 

I didn't write the laws, if I did motorcycles wouldn't be there either.

If it's going to be a Hi-MPG lane then fine: anything 40mpg or over on the hwy only.

At least then the meaningless HWY mileage being touted would have a purpose.

 

I think I idea to add the occupancy "equivalent" vehicles came up because the HOV lanes were not used up.

 

Then really...why have them?

In Atlanta they are all but useless...you are supposed to only enter on open lines but people go in and out as they please and generally use them as an extra fast lane whether or not they meet the HOV limits.

Here you don't get a break unless you are fully emissions free but we rarely use the interstate without the whole family in the car anyways.

Now they are talking about making it a toll lane with variable fees...great way to make it even less useful.

 

I see that here too. We need more police enforcing the HOV lane than doing the parking tickets.

I carpooled with a buddy even though I can drive in the HOV just by myself. After 6 months, I stopped doing it because I started to telecommute 3 days a week. He went and bought a Prius for himself.

Cordless Prii are still allowed in NY LIE HOV lane. So there is less motivation to upgrade to the plugin, for now....

 

The HOV lanes are there to get people to rideshare rather than drive alone. Here in SoCal when they opened the stretch of carpool lane on the 405 from just north of LAX up to the 10 freeway it cut the traffic backup by about 6 miles. That's on the regular lanes, not just the HOV lane.

There was a certain amount of spare capacity on the HOV lanes so allowing HEVs that got epa estimated milage of better than 45mpg and comformed with CA's low level emission rules was a good way to stimulate sales of these vehicles. Remember too that they only issued 85,000 of the yellow stickers so cars sold after about 2006 were no longer eligible

Yes, some people do use the HOV lane when they are driving alone and I do see the CHP policing the HOV lanes and pulling over offenders from time to time.

They have also gone the Toll Lane route here in SoCal on the 91 freeway. The idea behind the Toll lane is that they get private funding to building the lane with the private company recouping its costs with tolls - really just another was to tax without using the T word.

 

Well, after calling every Lexus dealer in the 5 states surrounding California, I finally located the exact CT200h I was looking for and pulled the trigger.

Once the PHV comes out, I'll pick up at least one for my employees, but I sure won't be too sorry to be riding in the CT200. =]

Goodbye 18mpg PT Cruisers, hello 43-50mpg!!!!

 

:thumb:

Congrats on that CT! Oooooo nice, is that the starfire pearl one which looks so cool in person? The pictures just don't do it justice.

 

Yep, Starfire Pearl with the caramel interior.

Now to find some lightweight wheels for it! (Stockers are 24lbs each!)