HOV exemptions
for hybrids?
Congress considers

updated 11:58 a.m. ET Feb. 3, 2005

WASHINGTON - If helping the environment isn’t a good enough reason to buy a hybrid car, lawmakers are contemplating a powerful appeal to drivers’ self-interest: an easier commute.

Legislation by lawmakers from California would let states make their own rules for hybrids in car pool lanes. If enacted, that would enable a California law letting hybrids in the lanes — even without passengers — to take effect.

Other states including Arizona, Connecticut and Georgia are contemplating similar measures and could move forward with them, too. Because federal transportation money helps pay for car pool lanes, the federal government sets the rules for them, and current regulations require cars in the lanes to carry one or more passengers.

“This is a bill whose time has very much come,” said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who co-sponsored the legislation Tuesday with Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.

Focus on flexibility
Hybrid cars “are allowing us to enhance the environment, reduce air pollution in California, and yet we’re not allowed to do this,” Issa said. “This bill will allow that to happen, not just in California but for all 50 states.”

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed California’s law in September. The Republican governor has made improving air quality a centerpiece of his environmental agenda, setting an example by commissioning General Motors to develop a hydrogen-powered Hummer for him (though there are not yet enough fueling stations for the vehicle to be practical for regular driving).

Federal law already allows states to open their car pool lanes to electric and alternative-powered vehicles, so the hydrogen Hummer could qualify. But the federal exception does not apply to hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight, which are powered by a gas engine in combination with an electric motor.

Overcrowded HOV lanes?
The hybrids are becoming increasingly popular. A 2000 Virginia law allowing them into car pool lanes sparked such huge sales that carpoolers have begun complaining of bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Available & upcoming hybrids DaimlerChrysler Diesel-electric Dodge Ram: Pickup gets 15 percent mileage boost. 2008: Dodge Durango SUV with 25 percent mileage improvement. Ford Escape Hybrid: SUV rated at 36 in city driving with two-wheel-drive model, nearly double that of the gas-only Escape. Highway driving rated at 31 mpg. Mercury Mariner SUV: 33 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway. 2007: Mazda Tribute SUV, no mileage data yet. 2008: Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, no mileage data yet. General Motors GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado: 2WD models get 18 mpg city, 21 mpg highway for an increase of 10-12 percent over gasoline siblings. Saturn Vue: SUV rated at 27 mpg in city and 32 mpg highway — a 20 percent increase over gasoline sibling. 2007: Saturn Aura sedan, no specs available. Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, up to 35 percent mpg boost. Chevrolet Malibu, 15 percent increase. 2008: Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups that get up to 35 percent mpg increase. Honda Insight: two-door rated at 56 mpg on highway and in city but discontinued starting in 2007 model year. Civic Hybrid: four-door rated at 51 mpg on highway and 49 mpg in city. Accord Hybrid: rated at 35 mpg on the highway, 29 mpg in the city. Nissan Fall 2006: Hybrid version of midsize Altima. Toyota Prius: Sedan rated at 60 mph in city, 51 mpg on highway. Lexus RX 400h: SUV rated at 31 mpg in city driving, two thirds more than its gas-only RX 330 sibling. Highlander Hybrid: SUV is rated at 32/27 mpg in city/highway driving based on two-wheel-drive model. Lexus GS 450h: Sports sedan rated at 25 mpg in city and 28 mpg highway, along with 339 horsepower. Camry Hybrid: Sedan rated at 40 mpg in city, 38 on highway.

Virginia moved forward with its measure despite the conflict with federal law, and federal officials allowed the state to continue while Congress resolved the issue.

California’s law requires hybrid drivers to get decals from the Department of Motor Vehicles to enter car pool lanes. Only 75,000 will be issued, an attempt to avoid the overcrowding Virginia has seen.

The California law, which sunsets after three years, also applies only to hybrids that get at least 45 miles per gallon, a standard that’s now met only by the Toyota and Honda versions and excludes models made by Ford and others.

Rival 10 percent bill
Ford and others in the auto industry oppose California’s law. They support more broadly written federal legislation by Missouri Republicans Sen. Jim Talent and Rep. Sam Graves that would open the door to any hybrid vehicles that get 10 percent or greater fuel efficiency than comparable non-hybrid versions.

Both the House and the Senate agreed to a provision allowing hybrids onto car pool lanes as part of a transportation bill that passed both chambers last year, but it never made it to President Bush’s desk.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is introducing a companion measure to Issa and Sherman’s House bill in the Senate.

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