Two months ago California’s five-year run of allowing certain “green” vehicles to travel in High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes without actually having a passenger came to an end, sparking debate and raising questions about which vehicles – if any – should be given similar exceptions in the future.
The bill that changed the long-standing issuance of HOV stickers to standard hybrids to only apply to pure electric vehicles and natural gas-powered vehicles caused an uproar from many hybrid owners when signed by California Governor Schwarzenegger on July 7th, has now been overwritten by a new bill according to KTLA news.
The latest bill, SB 535, signed this week by Schwarzenegger, was sponsored by General Motors and calls to allow for up to 40,000 additional motorists to gain HOV lane access for vehicles such as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt , Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf .
This new bill specifically added the inclusion of plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, expanding beyond the original plan to limit future permits to electric vehicles only.
The bill will also give a six-month extension for existing HOV sticker owners beyond the original December 31, 2010, deadline.
References
1.’New bill allows more…’ view
