Loss of HOV lanes for EVs

[ChrisO]

1) The idea to allow an exception to the HOV rules of more than one person in the car from the federal law, was allowed as a temporary exception. That exception is now expiring. The administration didn't have to do anything. They simply took it at as an opportunity not to extend the exception.

2) Why was this temporary in the first place? The whole point of the HOV lanes were to encourage people to do something that would reduce traffic and emissions. But let's face it, the "single driver" exception doesn't reduce traffic, and was bound to go away when you get to the point where a large portion of your cars fall into that category.

I personally think that it was the right thing to use this to encourage people buying cars that pollute less when they started all of this, but only for a period of time till they become common place. I don't know about other states, but I do believe that California has hit that point, and that it is right for the single driver HOV exceptions to go away.

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[jjhenry]

I can't see California changing its rules because a bureaucrat in DC says it should...

California is most definitely changing the rules because of the expiring Federal exemption.

Clean Air Vehicle Decals

My commute will be roughly 10-15 minutes longer each way starting in October. However, I agree with @Mach-Lee that HOV lanes should incentivize reducing the number of vehicles on the road, not the adoption of clean air vehicles. I'll be glad to take the ugly stickers off.

 

[4sallypat]

California is most definitely changing the rules because of the expiring Federal exemption.

Clean Air Vehicle Decals

My commute will be roughly 10-15 minutes longer each way starting in October. However, I agree with @Mach-Lee that HOV lanes should incentivize reducing the number of vehicles on the road, not the adoption of clean air vehicles. I'll be glad to take the ugly stickers off.

Same here - my commute will add another 10-20 mins in California.

Have been exclusively been using HOV lanes as a single occupant since 2018.

I'm going to miss that "free express" lane...

But I also am hearing that the HOV lanes are being converted into Fastrak lanes so my Fastrak transponder w/ EV discount will cost me a little, but well worth the time saver.

 

[azerik]

I think my MME started planning for this when i got my BC1.3 update. BC, for me, HF hardly works in the HOV anymore. But really I get tailgated just as much in any lane, including on and off ramps.

 

[rhougey]

Starting the end of September, one occupant EVs will not be allowed in HOV or HOT lanes. If you feel strongly about this contact the DOT, your representative, senator, or someone in Washington. The official memo from Martin C Knopp, Associate Administrator for Operations at the DOT is attached.

HOV
High Occupancy Vehicle

How is any vehicle with ONE occupant considered to be High Occupancy?
Maybe you could get DOT to have EV only lanes or Blue Car Only lanes or Ford Only Lanes? My point is you are not special because you drive an electric car.

P.S. I have no idea what an HOT lane is.

 

[kdonnel]

P.S. I have no idea what an HOT lane is.

High Occupancy Toll

An HOV lane that comes with a fee to use.

In Georgia there are I-85 HOT lanes located on the northern side of Metro Atlanta that were covered by this provision that is expiring because the funding used to build the lanes were tied to this provision.

In Georgia there are also I-75 South and I-75 North HOT lanes, not the direction of the road but where they are located in Metro Atlanta, that never allowed free use because the funding for those lanes were not tied to this provision.

I-85/75 also has HOV lanes on a portion of the road that was also covered by this provision.

 

[ChasingCoral]

This is nation wide?

I thought it was just a Georgia thing that it was ending.

It's nation wide. This was a DOT program that allowed states to put in place exceptions to HOV/HOT lanes and tolls. It was authorized by Congress a decade ago and is coming to an end.

 

[Neps]

The State here converted all of the HOV lanes on the freeways that I drive into toll-based Express lanes quite a while ago. So I have never had the opportunity to use an HOV lane while being a single occupant. What's worse is now when I have 2 or 3 occupants I still can't use the lanes since they're toll-based.

Another way for the state to make money, no one should be surprised that the state is changing lanes funded as HOV to promote multiple passenger use, to lanes which offer some income. You got's to pay to play here in the Golden State

 

[Mach1E]

Call me crazy, but I generally agree with the memo, single occupant vehicles should not be allowed free use of the HOV lanes. Single occupant vehicles should pay tolls, but the toll for an EV should be less than gas. Similar view to totally free charging, it invites overuse and abuse. It also simplifies enforcement. Keep it cheap, but not free.

Agreed.

As much as I like special treatment, I hate traffic more.

Not sure this policy was the deciding factor for many people buying an EV anyways anymore.

Government incentives are meant to impact behavior changes. But if they no longer change behavior, they’re no longer needed.

 

[kdonnel]

Not sure this policy was the deciding factor for many people buying an EV anyways anymore.

Was that the purpose? If so there were huge loopholes.

It certainly influenced me to buy an EV but under the program I could have bought a Chevrolet Suburban and reaped the same benefits. The provision allowed alternative fueled vehicles, not just EV, so that meant that all the GM vehicles that could use E85 qualified as well. You didn't have to actually use E85, just be able to use E85. In fact the provision allowed vehicles fueled solely by electricity, natural gas, propane, bi-fuel, or dual fuel. That meant E85 and plug in hybrids qualified but not hybrids.

For the longest time I saw more Georgia AFV plates on GM E85 vehicles than I did on EV.

If you opted for the AFV plate on your flex fuel vehicle you had to pay the annual alternative fuel vehicle fee as though you were an EV not buying any gas but if you were saving $9000+ in tolls that extra $200ish at registration was well worth it.

 

[jav_eee]

or a huge RAM diesel obscuring all visibility from my rear window. No thanks

this is a good thing, you're supposed to be looking forward when doing 70 mph down the highway.

 

[4sallypat]

......

Not sure this policy was the deciding factor for many people buying an EV anyways anymore.

Government incentives are meant to impact behavior changes. But if they no longer change behavior, they’re no longer needed.

Yes, this program was one of reasons I bought EVs.

Traffic in Los Angeles and surrounding counties are a nightmare so if there was a way not to spend time in bumper to bumper traffic, yes by all means.

All the cars since 2018 have been either PHEV or EV which allows for single occupant HOV lane access.

Really going to miss it.

Notice CA clean air green stickers on bumpers:

 

[HuntingPudel]

I habitually avoided the HOV lanes anyhow and didn’t stop when I got a PHEV or an EV. So this change doesn’t affect me much, if at all. I bought my EV because it was like my other cars: A fun toy.

 

[StrWhtMME]

My point for posting this and including the memo is, it might be included in the overall rollback of EV mandates. Maybe it was not intended to be included with those rollbacks. Our local news here in Georgia pointed out, this will just add more vehicles to the normal traffic lanes. Driving and commuting will suffer. Motorcycles will still be allowed in the High Occupancy Lanes.

This is nation wide?

I thought it was just a Georgia thing that it was ending.

I pay the $50 a year for the Alternative Fuel Vehicle plates that allow me to ride in the I-85 HOT lanes for free and in the I-85 HOV lanes as a single rider.

I did it because at one point I had a job that round trip would cost me about $36 a day in tolls to save an hour on my commute. I bought an EV and before I could even use the plates one time covid hit and I started working from home full time and then got a new job before I had to do that commute again.

It was the entire reason I bought my first EV, that potential $9000 annual toll savings and 245 hours of commute saved.

I continued to pay the $50 for each EV when I renewed my tags because I figured I still saved some money. This thread prompted me to download my transactions from the Georgia Peach Pass site and so far this year I have had $229.45 in adjustments due to the AFV plates. Extrapolate that over a full year and I would see adjustments of about $370. Subtract out the $100 I pay for the AFV plate and I will be losing out on $270 a year in savings. Many times I ride in the HOT lane just because it is free and not because it saves me any time so realistically my real savings are probably closer to $200 a year.

That’s why I made post. I have placed a call to the DOT, waiting on a call back. I hope this just an overlook. Let’s hope this will be resolved, and it will keep your commute somewhat sane.
So as not that much of a hit to my budget that this goes away but I feel for people who still were doing the commute I had in 2021 that triggered me to buy an EV to take advantage of this HOT/HOV lane rules that are ending.

Was that the purpose? If so there were huge loopholes.

It certainly influenced me to buy an EV but under the program I could have bought a Chevrolet Suburban and reaped the same benefits. The provision allowed alternative fueled vehicles, not just EV, so that meant that all the GM vehicles that could use E85 qualified as well. You didn't have to actually use E85, just be able to use E85. In fact the provision allowed vehicles fueled solely by electricity, natural gas, propane, bi-fuel, or dual fuel. That meant E85 and plug in hybrids qualified but not hybrids.

For the longest time I saw more Georgia AFV plates on GM E85 vehicles than I did on EV.

If you opted for the AFV plate on your flex fuel vehicle you had to pay the annual alternative fuel vehicle fee as though you were an EV not buying any gas but if you were saving $9000+ in tolls that extra $200ish at registration was well worth it.

I believe if you are driving and E85 vehicle in the HOV labels and pulled over you must show a gas receipt with a recent date of purchase.

 

[kdonnel]

My point for posting this and including the memo is, it might be included in the overall rollback of EV mandates. Maybe it was not intended to be included with those rollbacks. Our local news here in Georgia pointed out, this will just add more vehicles to the normal traffic lanes. Driving and commuting will suffer. Motorcycles will still be allowed in the High Occupancy Lanes.





I believe if you are driving and E85 vehicle in the HOV labels and pulled over you must show a gas receipt with a recent date of purchase.

Not in Georgia. The requirement is to have the AFV plate.

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