Prius now allowed in California HOV Lanes!

Yes - this will be quite the heated race. I already feel that I am way behind. ;-)

Not sure why I am in this race; there aren't any carpool lanes on ANY of the freeways I use to get to work.. :-( But there will be in late 2006...

 

So does this mean that we can use the HOV lanes at the toll plazas but will be charged for using them via Fastrak?

Regards,

-- Ian

 

Till the end of June, 2005, there are 57K registered hybrids owners (not all are eligible) in CA. Apparently, we will not run out of sticker quota for current owners. However, I don't think they have all 75K stickers printed. You may have to wait longer if they need to wait for more stickers to arrive if the initial batch run out.

 

So, at noon 30 I decide to crack open the newspaper . . . and what do I see as the top headline in big bold letters? . . .
Carpool lanes open to hybrids
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/...-14234053c.html

The two big things I gleamed from the story . . .

1) It will take about 2 weeks for them to mail the sticker.

2) It is a window sticker, not a bumper sticker.
I hope they don’t want it in the front window. I hate stickers and things in my field of view.
No bobble head Jesus or dice hanging from mirror for me.

 

I am SO excited!

Question -- I don't want to mess this up.

I fill out the form & mail it -- with $8. Right?

No visiting the DMV?

Thanks. Brenna

 

It's not a window sticker.

It's four yellow stickers. Front and rear bumper and two rear side panels.

I've read anything from two to six weeks.

They are issueing them to private people first before they're issuing them to city fleets and other publicly owned Prii. Good!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva\";p=\"115815)</div>

That was my recollection as well; however, the Sacramento Bee article, linked above, refers to a windshield sticker. I have not been able to locate the description of the sticker, which I remember having seen in the past, on the CA DMV website.

 

I'm not sure what the sticker looks liek yet . . but i called my dealer today about the CAV sticker. I just bought my prius yesterday so i don't have a license number yet. My dealer told me i just need to go to the DMV, show them my contract and pay 8 dollars and they'll give me a sticker right then and there. I'll have to go try it out and see if it works. i'll try and keep you guys posted.

 

I think the Sacramento Bee may have mixed up the HOV decals with the factory sticker that states the 04-05 Prius is an AT-PZEV. The one with the little green car with the leaf. This was referred to in either another article I read or the DMV site. If you look at the CA DMV site the 04-05 is designated AT-PZEV and the 2001-03 is SULEV. Both qualify for HOV status.

 

I won't be surprised if they design a new sticker for hybrids since they might decide to disallow hybrids if traffic gets very congested (remember the provision?) For sure, you will not get the same stickers for CNG and pure-electric vehicles.

 

As an interesting note, the following pure-electircs and hybrids DO NOT qualify:

"Neighborhood electric vehicles" like the GEM EV due to inability to exceed 35MPH

2005/2006 Ford Escape Hybrid, 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2006 Lexus Rx400h Hybrid, and the 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid- due to their fuel economy of less than 45MPG

Here is a surprise:

2005 Honda Accord fails to meet ATPZEV as does the 2005 Honda Insight ATPZEV

The last one is of interest because the 2000-2004 Insights all meet the required standard for their year of manufacture. Did Honda not file the paperwork? Not care? (As an aside, Honda Insights perform better in terms of smog and mileage than most motorcycles and carry 2 people, yet motorcycles HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PERMITTED IN HOV LANES with single occupant.

I never was able to even see an Insight at a dealer, and when approached, most did not even want to discuss them or simply dismissed them as 'toys'. I am beginning to think that Honda will discontinue the Insight, of at least the current interation.

 

2005 Honda Insight fails to meet ATPZEV

That's right. This year's Insight doesn't get a sticker.

Boy, am I glad I bought a Prius.

 

So I got my current registration out of the glove compartment, and I photocopied it, and I notice that it doesn't say "Prius" on there anywhere... It just says "Toyota" and "2005" and stuff. Does it have the necessary information? What else do I need to do? Thanks!

 

The VIN will show as a Prius on the DMV computers

 

You're lucky you don't live in a designated SFBay area county; then you would have the privilege of mounting a special "hybrid" Fastrak transponder right behind those missing dice. By the way, I hope you're not planning to use HOV lanes to cross a Bay area bridge because you may not be able to do so without that transponder...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ryca\";p=\"116985)</div>

Look on the second line. I think under "engine" or something like that there should be a letter. If it's "Q" you're fine. If it's "G" you need to get it fixed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva\";p=\"117026)</div>

Look on the second line. I think under "engine" or something like that there should be a letter. If it's "Q" you're fine. If it's "G" you need to get it fixed.[/b][/quote]

Awesome - it's a "Q". Thanks!

 

What is a

What is a "hybrid transponder"? Is that one that charges you bridge toll, even if you drive through the HOV lane at the toll plaza?

There is a page here that contains instructions on how to obtain one of these "Hybrid Vehicle FasTrak Kits", and what to do afterwards to get you Clean Air Vehicle Sticker: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/services/fastrak/hybrids.htm

 

... and I use mine everyday.