Several years ago in California, state lawmakers single handedly ensured the success of hybrids all around the world by allowing single occupant hybrid drivers (at least the first 85,000 of them) to purchase special carpool stickers which enabled them to zip around state roads unencumbered by the restraints felt by their petrol consuming counterparts.
If it were not for these political visionaries, cars like the Prius would likely only be seen today in automotive museums. These special hybrid exemptions are set to expire in July of 2011.
Fortunately for those of us still searching for a justification to buy a Nissan LEAF (or other PHEV), California has once again saved a new technology from being relegated to a life of obscurity as a display at one of the many dated ‘home of the future’ pavilions around this country. (My personal fav was the Monsanto House of the Future when it was at Disney)
Just this month, lawmakers voted overwhelming (64-8) to allow up to 40,000 solo drivers in electric and alternative fuel vehicles to use California’s carpool lanes through 2015. (The proposition SB 535 still has to be approved by the Senate/Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger…but the passage of the bill is considered all but done)
Finally, Nissan will be able to make some in roads into this state notorious for its stoic dedication to old technology and fear of anything cutting edge!
A unnamed source was quoted as saying, “I really had no use, or desire to drive a Nissan LEAF at all until this bill was introduced, heck I didn’t even know what a electric car was really, but as soon as I read about this in my local paper, I rushed online and reserved a couple of them.”
All the details on the legislation (without the sarcasm) can be found at Mercury News.
All the more power to the LEAF and other BEVs!
GO EV!!!
Future LEAF Driver(Quote)
Is this the Nissan Leaf for California blog?
Is there anything happening of national interest?
RB(Quote)
This makes sense to me.
It doesn’t cost California anything to do this and it promotes vehicles that use
significantly less gas.
What is the saying, RB?
“As goes California, so goes the nation.” Or something like that.
So this could be of national interest. Also remember that Statik is from Canada so he could be
writing about his national interest.
Rashiid Amul(Quote)
Arizona is doing the same thing though I am not sure of the number of carpool plates they will be distributing. This is a definite advantage / inventive for an EV.
James(Quote)
do you think this will change the perception of some people that they could plug the EV in the cigarette lighter frome their “real” car?
vanuck(Quote)
CA created a precedent that other states will follow. Historically the highest Hybrid registrations per capita are correlated to State incentives. Hawaii just passed legislation mandating 1% of parking spots to have charging by 12/11, will be interesting to see which states will follow.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol05_Ch0261-0319/HRS0291/HRS_0291-0071.htm
MG(Quote)
Yeah, something like that. But tell me – what’s a Carpool Only lane? I’ve never seen one of those.
That’s right – I don’t live in California.
JEff(Quote)
Jeff,The carpool lane is the furthest left lane on our multi lane highways.It usually requires 2 or 3 people in a car to be able to use it. Our highways are very busy especially during rush hour.. During rush hour 95%of the cars only have one occupant. They can not use the car pool lane and the regular lanes back up bumper to bumper. The car pool lane usually is not backed up and you can pass, at the speed limit or better all those on your right who are usually rolling at about 10 to 20 miles an hour, at best . Car pool lanes are used to motivate people to car pool and get some cars off the road.
stanley
Stan Stein(Quote)
Also available in the Pacific NW, 2 or 3 passengers required.
GO EV!!!
FUTURE LEAF DRIVER(Quote)
Carpool lanes are all over the place in the US. Mostly in major cities.
We have them here in Connecticut as well.
What State do you live in Jeff?
Rashiid Amul(Quote)
Got here late today> This was a good one LOL!
Got my charger inspection today. Results posted in the forum. Looks like any wire run less than 30′ to the charger you will get hit with the full 1250$ “standard” labor rate.
(Well dah GeorgeS that’s why they call it “standard”.)
GeorgeS(Quote)
Sorry GeorgeS, it stills seems like a ripoff. Why so much money?
Rashiid Amul(Quote)
Yes it does seem a little steep. I suppose you could just go 110v for the time being then put the charger in later. however, I think Statik said you might loose your priority/place in line as those people in the gov. sponsored charge infrastructure areas would get first priority.—but I’m not sure about that and it’s probably still open to speculation.
GeorgeS(Quote)
GeorgeS,
How long did it take to install?
Was it the parts or the labor that cost the most?
I honestly can’t see it taking more than two hours labor.
Rashiid Amul(Quote)
GeorgeS – hopefully you will be approved for the EV Project and then get refunded.
JEff – I do nto live in CA either. But using the carpool lane it would save me about 10 to 15 minutes each way. Yes, I could save 2.5 hours per week doing something other than sitting in bumper to bumper traffic….
James(Quote)
I get confused about this. ECO is doing the free chargers correct but is Aero also doing free chargers. My inspection was an outfit hired by Aero. Please straighten me out on this.
Thx
GeorgeS(Quote)
Sorry guys…I have some sarcasm (or not) of my own. I wonder how often a Leaf or other BEV will block the car pool lane due to low battery charge? However if all BEVs are driven by enthusiasts, it might be less likely. (Different Jeff BTW)
JeffB(Quote)
JeffB – Unfortunately you are correct. It will happen. I recall back in the 90’s when GM had the EV1’s on the roads around here. I did on occasion see them being towed. I sincerely doubt it will happen to me but I have a high confidence level that it will happen.
GeorgeS – sorry i have no idea. I was just hopping he best for you. =)
James(Quote)
Jeffb, I am not an “enthusiast”. In fact until May of this year, I never drove or thought of owning a plug in. Nissan`s Leaf web site caught my attention. I became impressed with the work that Nissan was doing . Both from a technology stand point and the quality of their roll out process. I validated what Nissan was offering with independent sources. I also looked at the need for OUR Country to get off oil dependency. My conclusion was to place a pre-order. What put me over the top to move ahead was if Nissan was willing to spend billions and billions of their money on plug inns, I should be willing to take some risk as well. If plug inns work out and are adopted by mainstream America all of our futures will be brighter. I believe that the average person will buy plug inns if the total expense of owning and operating a plug in less than gasoline cars. If Nissan provides a quality warranty on the Leaf battery , I intend on going ahead with my purchase. I am willing to take risk but that risk needs to be reasonable.
I wonder if you would have told Edison stop your experiments, candles are good enough stanley
Stan Stein(Quote)
Hmmm…I doubt anyone would want a medical procedure done using Edison’s first light bulbs without candles and lanterns as a backup. While not the best analogy, it should make my point. Any vehicle that stops on a highway does create a safety concern. Hopefully all BEV drivers will be attentive than EV1 drivers to their energy level.
I’ve been following the Leaf and Volt since concept. Anything to marginalize the importance of the oil industry without creating a similar industry is great with me.
JeffB(Quote)
JeffB, It will happen, but so does cars out of gas on the side of the road. Nissan`s strategy of home chargers and infrastructure will help. It would be nice if some one could develop a portable spare to be used in emergencies. stanley
Stan Stein(Quote)
I know what a carpool lane is, and I’m fully aware that they are common on the west coast, the northeast, and major cities in other parts of the country. But they are far from being everywhere.
My point – apparently not well made – is that California does not always lead the nation, although some people from there might like to believe it does. Agreed there are many areas in which California does lead, not all of them good, but there are many areas in which, thankfully, it does not.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming!
JEff(Quote)
Heeh, it seems that way of late. I actually have some non-California stuff coming up soon, as they say on other sites, “stay tuned”
Jay (Statik) Cole(Quote)
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apartmani zagreb(Quote)