Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday signed into law legislation that will effectively grant HOV lane access to the Nissan LEAF one year before the Chevy Volt. California will grant 40,000 new HOV permits for alternative fuel cars, including compressed natural gas, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles over the course of the next four years. But the terms of the legislation dictate that PHEVs like the Chevy Volt will not be eligible for HOV stickers until one year after full-electrics like the LEAF, which are already included in the current program.
SB 535 was the second of two bills signed into law this week that will modernize how California uses access to its high occupancy lanes to nudge citizens toward purchasing low-emissions vehicles. AB 1500, which Gov. Schwarzenegger signed on Monday, extended privileges for current drivers of CNG-powered cars and EVs through 2014. Those cars have long been eligible for HOV stickers, but their special status was due to expire at the end of this year, along with hybrids.
SB 535's contribution was extending sticker privileges to plug-in hybrids as well—just not for about another 16 months. Lawmakers are reported to have delayed the rule change so as not to favor the Chevy Volt over forthcoming PHEVs like the Toyota Prius Plug-in and Fisker's Project NINA sedan, which are scheduled for release in 2012.
The unfortunate consequence of this curious decision is that Volt buyers in California won't get to enjoy the same benefits from being early promoters of plug-ins as LEAF owners. Not exactly a Greek tragedy, but a little unfair nonetheless.
Very unfair to say the least. And rather disappointing. The sort of decision that reeks of corporate donations. Remember how the most vocal opponents of the bail out of GM and Chrysler were Senators from Southern states with Japanese owned auto plants?