"Conventional" hybrids kicked out of California carpool lanes

[payne171]

Rooster, you are also unfairly generalizing mild hybrids. To this day, no car has exceeded the fuel economy of a first generation Honda Insight without plug-in capability, and the Civic Hybrid is still just about the only car whose fuel savings actually justify the purchase of a hybrid over the course of a normal auto loan. If HOVs are going to allow special access beyond carpoolers, it should be for a certain fuel or efficiency mark, not for a certain technology, if they have them at all.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by payne171

Rooster, you are also unfairly generalizing mild hybrids. To this day, no car has exceeded the fuel economy of a first generation Honda Insight without plug-in capability, and the Civic Hybrid is still just about the only car whose fuel savings actually justify the purchase of a hybrid over the course of a normal auto loan.

I hate the Honda Civic because it's not so roomy at the back seat and the trunk is too small.

If HOVs are going to allow special access beyond carpoolers, it should be for a certain fuel or efficiency mark, not for a certain technology, if they have them at all.

That would be the obvious, but politicians always wanna try to reinvent the wheel...

[payne171]

Not a big fan of the HCH myself, but it's merits as an efficient/clean car are undeniable. A GM style mild hybrid should not qualify, but Honda's system has its merits.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by payne171

A GM style mild hybrid should not qualify, but Honda's system has its merits.

Any vehicle which doesn't rely on electric power for traction, either as an auxiliary drive like the Toyota Prius or the main drive like the Chevy Volt, shouldn't even be classified as a hybrid.