California Bill Proposes Hybrids Ok To Ride in Car Pool Lane

LOS ANGELES April 12, 2004; Tim Maloy writing for the AP reported that solo motorists driving hybrid vehicles would be allowed on California car pool lanes under a bill that received support Thursday from a coalition of elected officials and environmentalists.

The bill would apply to hybrids that get more than 45 mpg and meet the state's strictest emission standards. Current law allows electric and some other very low-emission vehicles to use the lanes, as well as carpoolers in normal vehicles, said Michele St. Martin, a spokeswoman for the California Environmental Protection Agency, which supports the bill.

"It's to recognize consumers who have already done the right thing and purchased fuel efficient and clean emitting vehicles, but also to encourage consumers to purchase more of them," said Susan Little, spokeswoman for the bill's author, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley.

Those attending a news conference to support the bill were state Treasurer Phil Angelides, EPA Secretary Terry Tamminen and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

Also attending was National Resources Defense Council Trustee Laurie David. The Toyota Prius, one of the hybrids that would get car pool lane privileges, gets frequent exposure on her husband Larry David's HBO television show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

In a statement, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office said he also supports the legislation. The bill would provide an "incentive for intelligent-minded consumers who are seeking fuel-efficient and environmentally sound modes of transportation," the statement said.

About 6,000 electric and low-emission vehicles are now authorized to use the lanes, St. Martin said. The bill would also open the lanes to the 20,000 hybrids currently on the state's roads, she said.

The bill would allow up to 75,000 hybrids to get special passes to use the lanes, and would extend through 2008. State transportation officials would be allowed to end the privilege if the law led to too much congestion, St. Martin said.

The bill, AB2628, was introduced Feb. 20.

Original Story

October 6, 2003 California May Allow Single-Occupancy Hybrids In Carpool Lane

SACRAMENTO, CA -- The State of California has requested authority from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to allow hybrid vehicles to drive in High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV), or carpool, lanes with only a single occupant. State officials, treasurer Phil Angelides, Caltrans director Jeff Morales, and California Environmental Protection Agency secretary Winston Hickox jointly announced the proposal in a teleconference.

Eligible vehicles would include fuel cell vehicles and gasoline/electric hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Honda’s Insight and Civic Hybrid.

"We've worked very hard on a state and national level to encourage the use of hybrid vehicles like the Prius and we hope many more states follow suit by allowing hybrids with one occupant to drive in the HOV lane," said Toyota Motor Sales, USA chief operating officer Jim Press. "For any driver stuck in traffic, this would be the equivalent of a 'get out of jail free' card."

"If this plan is enacted, it would allow [hybrid] owners to drive down the highway knowing they're getting high fuel [economy], helping improve air quality and reducing traffic congestion all at the same time," said Press. "It would be terrific if the HOV lanes became known as Hybrid-Occupancy Vehicle lanes."