Should Hybrids Be Allowed In The Carpool Lane?

nytimes.com:

States are beginning to address the question of whether hybrid and electric cars should be allowed in remain in carpool lanes as the number of such vehicles proliferates.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[goodspkr]

I love this argument as greenies start to eat their young. Building carpool lanes set up a special privilege for those people who would do what the greenies wanted them to, that is have more than one person in the car (hey is a carpool really only two people? Why not all seats are filled in the car? )

But then a second behavior that the greenies wanted to encourage, better gas mileage and suddenly hybrids were allowed in these sacred lanes. But now that more and more people are actually doing what the greenies want them to, we have a problem.

So let me see if I have this right. You will give special treatment to some people who do what you feel is socially responsible until too many people are being socially responsible. So it's time to kick them out of your special privilege area. I can always count on you folks to be true to your word.

[RegularEinstein]

I'd say allow any single-person vehicle getting 50 mpg in the carpool lanes. Considering the average vehicle gets approx 20-25 mpg it is the equivalent of 2 persons sharing the average vehicle. Unfortunately most states when making rules allowing alternate fuel or hybrid exemptions tend to screw them up. For example, AZ once had a rule allowing flex-fuel vehicles to use the carpool lanes, resulting in drivers of giant Hummers and Ford Excursions fitting dinky LP tanks to their vehicles to give them the exemption. States should strictly stick to a 50 mpg (no less) exemption.

[lvogt]

One purpose of the carpool lane is to reduce carbon emissions per person so I say yes or, perhaps any car getting better than say 40-MPG should be allowed. You'd get a sticker when you get you vehicle licensee or emissions test. Anything to encourage a change over. All electrics would be automatically OK.

[plzchuteme]

Of course not! Use of the "car pool" lanes should be determined by using the "Tim Pawlenty doctrine," that is, car pool lanes should be reserved for those who are rich enough, foolish enough, or desperate enough to spend extra money for the privilege of using those lanes no matter how inefficient their vehicle is or how many passengers are riding, even if it is only a driver. What's more, the Tim Pawlenty toll should be privatized for the collection of said monies while the public continues to pay for the maintenance of the roads.

[way2muchsense]

I have a feeling Tim Pawlenty's political clock is about to tick its last. I can't possibly see the good people of Minnesota continuing to put up with this guy, let alone the whole nation somehow embracing him.

[rtb61]

With electric vehicles now becoming much more available, the answer is no, absolutely not. All electric cars definitely, although pollution is still created in generating the required electyrocity at least the pollution is generated well away from city centres and many not polluting methods can also be used to generate the required electricity. Also in the future, more traffic lanes could be set aside fro all electric only which would promote their more rapid acceptance.

[quiviran]

No. Fuel efficiency should be the deciding factor. A diesel auto gets 50mpg should be in. A 22mpg hybrid should not be in.

[carlosgriffin]

Thank you for using nothing more than logic.

[tabatha]

Even in congested Southern California, the car pool lane is often not congested.

One of the worst freeways is the 405, particularly on a stretch that passes the airport, and even there, the commuter lane typically has light traffic.

If carpool lanes started to get crowded, then it's time to say no hybrids.

Until then, it makes sense to reward those who purchase hybrids. Clean deisels, too!

[econ1]

It depends on what you are trying to promote.

If you want to promote hybrids over gas, electric, diesel, whatever...then it is a bit like selling a car that comes with a ticket into the faster lane.

If you are trying to reduce energy use and emissions you are probably better putting all the SUV's in there so they finish their journey more rapidly.

[Merrimack]

Why are Hybrids given preferential treatment over Blue-diesels? Blue diesels have the same or less output as Hybrids. That goes for regularly powered cars that get twice the mpgs as the average. As stated earlier the idea is to reduce the actual number of cars on the road. Stick to the original mission.

I think the whole concept is ridiculous. I have never figured out how people do the car pool thing. I arrive and leave work on my schedule not someone else's. If places like SoFla were serious about reducing traffic they would build out a real public transport system.

[JamesDusenberry]

Absolutely they should be allowed in the carpool lane. The whole idea of the carpool lane is to reward carpoolers for saving gas/energy­/pollution­. Hybrids and electric cars do that, so they should be allowed.

If the carpool is getting clogged with clean and cleaner energy cars, that's a great thing, and instead of getting rid of those cars from the carpool lane, they should simply expand the carpool lane.

[KIVPossum]

No. Many hybrids get only marginally more fuel efficiency. Depending on the driver, it's easily possible to get more mpg in a convential car.

[Jaywalkker]

Don't forget altitude as well which greatly affects combustion.

[Jaywalkker]

I fail to see why 2 solo driving hybrids are more efficient than 2 people sharing a hybrid. Why not stick with the strict definition of a High Occupancy Vehicle lane and ignore these fringe benefits that decrease with increased users.

[drkazmd65]

As the driver of a conventional gasoline powered vehicle - but one that gets better milage than at least the hybrid mid-sized & SUVs,... I vote no.

If I cannot be allowed into a carpool lane with my 38-40mpg Mazda without a passenger, then some schmo with a Ford Escape hybrid shouldn't be either.

[motoGpifupleez]

Carpool lanes should be reserved for........multi passenger use. In other words-CARPOOLS.

[jsarets]

Maybe if the goal is to get people to buy new cars, but not if the goal is to reduce traffic.

I think that a better idea is to encourage employers to adopt off-peak hours if possible to spread commuter traffic away from the traditional rush hours. There could be a tax credit for jobs that don't start at 8-9AM or end at 5-6PM on weekdays.

The irony is that hybrids aren't significantly more efficient than conventional cars on highways. For example, the 2011 Chevy Volt will get 50mpg in series hybrid mode, whereas the 2011 Chevy Cruze will get 45mpg with the same chassis and one more seat -- for half the price!

So if GM wants to set the bar for HOV access at 65mpg, then would Volt drivers have to leave the HOV lane after their 40 miles of battery range is exhausted?

The economical hybrid hasn't arrived yet. When it does, it will be a series hybrid with a constant-speed engine, polyphase induction motors, and a ceramic capacitor. No variable-speed engine, no epicyclic gearset, no liquid-cooled permanent-magnet motors, no liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, and no elaborate control algorithms. Much simpler than a Prius.

[StJames]

Like your 'off-peak- hours' idea.