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bluesight · 10-18-2019, 02:33 PM

OK...For us G1 Insight owners...I continue to try to find a way to get some transparency through WI open records requests on the outsourced, proprietary IHS Markit process for categorizing hybrid-electric vehicles . I will be looking for your help when submitting correction requests to also pursue public records on the process, as noted below. Here is my open records request to dotopenrecords@dot.wi.gov:

From:
(Me)
(address)

(date...whatever)

To:
Records Custodian
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705

Dear WI DOT Records Custodian:

Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 - 19.39., I request documents in the form of correspondence with IHS Markit involving citizen requests through the MV1020 "TITLE/REGISTRATION CORRECTION REQUEST" form for correction of the categorization of hybrid-electric vehicles, as it relates to the hybrid-electric vehicle surcharge. Records would include WI DOT requests to IHS Markit for clarification of categorization of hybrid-electric vehicles, and responses, both general and detailed, from IHS Markit on acceptance or rejection of the correction, and, in the case of rejection, specific justifications from IHS Markit as to the reason for rejection. If it is necessary to redact details of VIN number, please provide description of the vehicle involved by make, model and year of the vehicle.

I expect this information can be provided electronically and I request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of which vehicles are subject to the hybrid electric vehicle fee. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.

I would request a response in writing, within the 5 days described by law, if you intend to deny this request. Also, if you expect a significant delay in fulfilling this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,
(Me)
(phone)

----

So, the problem with this is that it may be rejected because WI DOT will not release "private" information, specifically the VIN which is what drives this process. We'll see. But, to get around this, anyone that submits an MV1020 "Registration Correction Request" form should attach an open records request to it, and send the same request separately to the dotopenrecords@dot.wi.gov address (with parenthesized modifications). It would look like:
-----------
Please correct my vehicle registration to remove the hybrid-electric vehicle registration fee of $75. This XXXX (year) Honda Insight is a mild-hybrid vehicle equivalent to a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco that is exempt from the $75 fee. This XXXX Honda Insight is, therefore, also exempt from the $75 fee based on these comparative specifications taken from descriptions of the two vehicles:

Malibu Eco: 15-kW motor-generator
Honda Insight: The electric motor on the Insight is rated at 10 kilowatts
Malibu Eco: Electric motor cannot power the car by itself
Honda Insight: Electric motor cannot power the car by itself; the gas engine must be running for the car to move
Malibu Eco : Lithium-ion battery provides electrical boost in various driving scenarios
Honda Insight: Electric Motor assists gasoline engine for extra power while the car is accelerating or climbing a hill
Malibu Eco: Automatic (electric motor) smooth engine start-stop functionality
Honda Insight: Electric Motor Starts the engine
Malibu Eco: Regenerative braking, which provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery
Honda Insight: Motor acts as a generator and recharges the batteries using a process called regenerative braking
Malibu Eco: 0.5 kWh, 115V lithium-ion battery
Honda Insight: 0.9 kWh, 144V NiMH battery
Malibu Eco: 2.4L Ecotec direct-injection four-cylinder engine rated at an estimated 180 hp
Honda Insight: 1.0-liter, three-cylinder that produces 67 horsepower
Malibu Eco: Weighs about 3700lb
Honda Insight: The Insight weighs less than 1,900 pounds

The primary difference between these two vehicles is the curb weight and the size of the gasoline engine. These distinctions are not relevant to the hybrid classification.

As part of this correction request, I am also submitting the following open record request here and directly to the WI DOT open records custodian:

Dear WI DOT Records Custodian:

Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 - 19.39., I request documents in the form of correspondence with IHS Markit involving my citizen request through this (the) MV1020 "TITLE/REGISTRATION CORRECTION REQUEST" form (I have submitted) for correction of the categorization of my vehicle, VIN #xxxxxxxxxxx, as it relates to the hybrid-electric vehicle surcharge. Records would include WI DOT requests to IHS Markit for clarification of categorization of hybrid-electric vehicles, and responses, both general and detailed, from IHS Markit on acceptance or rejection of the correction, and, in the case of rejection, specific justifications from IHS Markit as to the reason for rejection.

I expect this information can be provided electronically and I request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of which vehicles are subject to the hybrid-electric vehicle fee. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.

I would request a response in writing, within the 5 days described by law, if you intend to deny this request. Also, if you expect a significant delay in fulfilling this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.
------

I may be running out of steam on this, but it is such a travesty that I'll probably keep going until the brick wall starts hurting my head...

B

10-18-2019, 02:33 PM	#19 (permalink)
bluesight Hybrider Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: United States Posts: 34 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	OK...For us G1 Insight owners...I continue to try to find a way to get some transparency through WI open records requests on the outsourced, proprietary IHS Markit process for categorizing hybrid-electric vehicles . I will be looking for your help when submitting correction requests to also pursue public records on the process, as noted below. Here is my open records request to dotopenrecords@dot.wi.gov: From: (Me) (address) (date...whatever) To: Records Custodian Wisconsin Department of Transportation 4822 Madison Yards Way Madison, WI 53705 Dear WI DOT Records Custodian: Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 - 19.39., I request documents in the form of correspondence with IHS Markit involving citizen requests through the MV1020 "TITLE/REGISTRATION CORRECTION REQUEST" form for correction of the categorization of hybrid-electric vehicles, as it relates to the hybrid-electric vehicle surcharge. Records would include WI DOT requests to IHS Markit for clarification of categorization of hybrid-electric vehicles, and responses, both general and detailed, from IHS Markit on acceptance or rejection of the correction, and, in the case of rejection, specific justifications from IHS Markit as to the reason for rejection. If it is necessary to redact details of VIN number, please provide description of the vehicle involved by make, model and year of the vehicle. I expect this information can be provided electronically and I request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of which vehicles are subject to the hybrid electric vehicle fee. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes. I would request a response in writing, within the 5 days described by law, if you intend to deny this request. Also, if you expect a significant delay in fulfilling this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records. If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law. Thank you for considering my request. Sincerely, (Me) (phone) ---- So, the problem with this is that it may be rejected because WI DOT will not release "private" information, specifically the VIN which is what drives this process. We'll see. But, to get around this, anyone that submits an MV1020 "Registration Correction Request" form should attach an open records request to it, and send the same request separately to the dotopenrecords@dot.wi.gov address (with parenthesized modifications). It would look like: ----------- Please correct my vehicle registration to remove the hybrid-electric vehicle registration fee of $75. This XXXX (year) Honda Insight is a mild-hybrid vehicle equivalent to a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco that is exempt from the $75 fee. This XXXX Honda Insight is, therefore, also exempt from the $75 fee based on these comparative specifications taken from descriptions of the two vehicles: Malibu Eco: 15-kW motor-generator Honda Insight: The electric motor on the Insight is rated at 10 kilowatts Malibu Eco: Electric motor cannot power the car by itself Honda Insight: Electric motor cannot power the car by itself; the gas engine must be running for the car to move Malibu Eco : Lithium-ion battery provides electrical boost in various driving scenarios Honda Insight: Electric Motor assists gasoline engine for extra power while the car is accelerating or climbing a hill Malibu Eco: Automatic (electric motor) smooth engine start-stop functionality Honda Insight: Electric Motor Starts the engine Malibu Eco: Regenerative braking, which provides up to 15 kW of electricity to charge the battery Honda Insight: Motor acts as a generator and recharges the batteries using a process called regenerative braking Malibu Eco: 0.5 kWh, 115V lithium-ion battery Honda Insight: 0.9 kWh, 144V NiMH battery Malibu Eco: 2.4L Ecotec direct-injection four-cylinder engine rated at an estimated 180 hp Honda Insight: 1.0-liter, three-cylinder that produces 67 horsepower Malibu Eco: Weighs about 3700lb Honda Insight: The Insight weighs less than 1,900 pounds The primary difference between these two vehicles is the curb weight and the size of the gasoline engine. These distinctions are not relevant to the hybrid classification. As part of this correction request, I am also submitting the following open record request here and directly to the WI DOT open records custodian: Dear WI DOT Records Custodian: Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 - 19.39., I request documents in the form of correspondence with IHS Markit involving my citizen request through this (the) MV1020 "TITLE/REGISTRATION CORRECTION REQUEST" form (I have submitted) for correction of the categorization of my vehicle, VIN #xxxxxxxxxxx, as it relates to the hybrid-electric vehicle surcharge. Records would include WI DOT requests to IHS Markit for clarification of categorization of hybrid-electric vehicles, and responses, both general and detailed, from IHS Markit on acceptance or rejection of the correction, and, in the case of rejection, specific justifications from IHS Markit as to the reason for rejection. I expect this information can be provided electronically and I request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of which vehicles are subject to the hybrid-electric vehicle fee. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes. I would request a response in writing, within the 5 days described by law, if you intend to deny this request. Also, if you expect a significant delay in fulfilling this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records. If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law. Thank you for considering my request. ------ I may be running out of steam on this, but it is such a travesty that I'll probably keep going until the brick wall starts hurting my head... B Last edited by bluesight; 10-18-2019 at 02:56 PM..