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As it says, hybrid vehicles are no longer covered. Only electric-only and natural gas vehicles qualify. Makes sense to me. ...although those who do drive a short commute of say 30 miles will likely only be using gas above the Volt range which might not be often so it's a bit gray. Makes it simple for California though. Too many hybrids to keep the Clean Air stickers a unique item since cars like the Prius have just become a commodity car as it is.
I like it because it should encourage more electric cars to be purchased.
For what it's worth, Minnesota recently passed a statute to add definitions for Medium-speed electric car as being a vehicle that can do 35mph top speed. We already had the Neighborhood electric vehicle at 25mph or less, but that's not my point...
Now the definition of Plug-in hybrid has been added. It is any vehicle that is capable of traveling substantially under electric power for at least 20 miles.
This definition is under the category of electric car
So the Chevy Volt by Minnesota definition receives any benefits that an electric car holds by being a plug-in. The plug-in Prius, however, since it is under 20 miles, will not. Homemade conversions cannot qualify for plug-in hybrid, NEV, or MSEV, only standard electric vehicle classification.
The odd thing about it is there are no defined benefits at all for owning an electric car. As far as I can tell the only tax advantage you can get for a vehicle is the 10 model year old or older purchase of a car under a specific price nets a $10 sales tax and $35 tabs and around $10 for plates. I got that deal when I bought my Insight because the calendar just flipped from 2009 to 2010.
The one thing that is important is that all government agencies are now being required to phase-in clean vehicles which includes electric cars. ...everyone except for police vehicles and other emergency vehicles. So this is the only place where I see the designation holding any benefit. ...the possibility of more vehicles on the market later on ex-gov.
IMHO the plug-in Prius and its lower electric range is a bit of a joke, seems to me the aftermarket solutions are better.
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