Breaking news! Chevy volt technically driven by gas engine!

[gone-ot]

...maybe California isn't so dumb after all:

Chevy Volt Won't Qualify for HOV Lane or $5,000 Rebate in California - KickingTires

[bennelson]

I have heard that California no longer gives HOV stickers for Prius's.

Supposedly, a used Prius WITH the HOV sticker sells for up to $3000 more than one without one!

(I'm not in California. Perhaps a Californian can confirm that for me.)

[SoobieOut]

Government Motors makes another fatal error. Please let them devolve into a canning factory.

"]]Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - Ecomodder.com Fuel Economy Forum

[MN Driver]

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.

[cfg83]

bennelson -

Originally Posted by bennelson

I have heard that California no longer gives HOV stickers for Prius's.

Supposedly, a used Prius WITH the HOV sticker sells for up to $3000 more than one without one!

(I'm not in California. Perhaps a Californian can confirm that for me.)

That is correct. And yes, it has created a "premium" on used hybrids that have the sticker. No new hybrids of any kind qualify for HOV stickers. Only NGVs and electrics qualify. I am guessing that that there is also a set number of HOV stickers allotted for electrics and NGVs. Once those run out, no more stickers.

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

Old Tele man -

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...maybe California isn't so dumb after all:

Chevy Volt Won't Qualify for HOV Lane or $5,000 Rebate in California - KickingTires

That makes sense. On any "HOV-style" commute, the engine would come on. And, anyway, as I just stated, all the hybrid HOV stickers have been used up.

CarloSW2

[tjts1]

I suggest all the Volt haters get over it. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Plenty of other people will buy and it'll be a sales success. The technology will move on and each successive generation will be cheaper, lighter, faster and more powerful.

The funny thing is, if GM decided to pull an EV1 with the Volt and crush every single example, the same people bad mouthing it now would be screaming bloody murder. GM can do no right.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by cfg83

bennelson -



That is correct. And yes, it has created a "premium" on used hybrids that have the sticker. No new hybrids of any kind qualify for HOV stickers. Only NGVs and electrics qualify. I am guessing that that there is also a set number of HOV stickers allotted for electrics and NGVs. Once those run out, no more stickers.

CarloSW2

That should end pretty soon, unless the law is modified to extend to stickers beyond Jan 1, 2011. It'll be nice to not have a premium just for the stickers and use an HOV lane that isn't as jam packed with cars.

Clean Air Stickers High Occupancy Vehicle HOV Lane Usage

[autoteach]

"The California certification system is tested using gasoline, so the Volt’s 25 to 50 miles of electric-only range aren’t taken into consideration. These emissions tests reflect a Volt using its onboard gasoline generator only; it’s not exactly a fair fight for GM’s plug-in."

Cali must know a whole lot more than the other states, especially if they wont let it use its electric range during its test in these conditions. Seems fair, now if they dont let the leaf use its electric range, it goes nowhere. If they dont let the prius, it is pretty much still a prius. How is this an effective evaluation?

[UFO]

Maybe CARB thinks they are being realistic with how the expect people to drive them...I agree, it's stupid, and I disagree with their assessment.