DRIVERS of certain vehicles in a US state have just weeks before a new lane change law comes into force.
From September 30, drivers with specific plates will no longer be allowed to use certain lanes during restricted hours in the morning and afternoon.
Drivers of certain vehicles in Hawaii have just weeks before a new lane change law comes into effect[/caption]
It will see EV drivers banned from certain lanes in a bid to improve travel efficiency[/caption]
According to Spectrum News, motorists from the state of Hawaii with electric vehicles may have to make some adjustments – as those with special EV plates will no longer be permitted to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Plates on EVs often have unique markings, designs or identifiers that distinguish EVs from traditional gas-powered vehicles.
The ruling will apply during restricted hours in the morning and afternoon – to comply with federal law.
The change comes as the exemption allowing EVs to use HOV lanes, established under federal code 23 USC 166(B)(4) in 2005, is set to expire on September 30, 2025.
Hawaii’s Department of Transportation (HDOT) is making this adjustment as part of their requirement to file annual reports to the Federal Highway Administration.
These reports evaluate the traffic flow in HOV lanes, as well as lanes that fail to meet federal traffic flow standards.
To this end, they sometimes may require additional measures to improve travel efficiency.
HDOT added that the state rule that grants EV exemptions will remain in place in case the federal rule is extended or renewed in the future.
This comes as HDOT recently revealed drivers in the state will shortly be paying more for an essential annual service.
From July 1, 2025, the fee for a Hawaii vehicle safety inspection has been increased by 75 cents to $25.75 for automobiles and trucks.
And the price also rose to $17.75 for motorcycles and trailers.
The department said: “The increase is needed to cover the vendor costs to administer and manage the safety check program, also known as the Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) program.
“Under the new fee structure the share that goes to the contractor, Parsons Corporation, to operate the PMVI program will increase from $1.34 to $2.09.
“The HDOT will continue to collect $1.70 for administrative and enforcement purposes.”
They warned, too, that the fee to replace a destroyed or lost inspection sticker or certificate has increased by 75 cents.
On average, 1.2 million safety inspections are conducted each year in Hawaii.
The aim of these vehicle safety inspections is to uncover potential safety issues to help prevent equipment failure that may result in a crash or stalled vehicle.
Electric vehicles vs gas
Pros and cons of EVs vs gasoline-powered vehicles
EV PROS:
- Convenient (when charging at home)
- Cheaper (depending on state or city)
- Cheaper maintenance, due to lack of mechanical parts
- Great for commuting
- Reduced CO2 emissions
- Federal and state tax incentives
- More performance (speed, handling – depending on the make and model)
EV CONS:
- Higher initial cost
- Higher insurance rates
- More frequent tire and brake replacement intervals
- Higher curb weight (thus causing more rapid wear on crucial parts)
- Low resale value
- High depreciation rates
- Lack of charging infrastructure
- Unreliable public charging (related: slow charging times)
- Poor winter and summer performance
- Lack of clean energy alternatives means more “dirty energy” from coal and nuclear sources
- Range anxiety
GAS PROS:
- Highly developed refueling infrastructure
- Fast refueling
- Cheaper insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
- Established repair industry
- Lower initial cost
- Higher range before refueling, especially with hybrids
- Many manufacturers produce nearly emission-less engines
- Cheaper refueling, depending on the location
GAS CONS:
- Finite resource (related: heavy dependence on petroleum)
- Carbon emissions/greenhouse gases
- Higher repair costs
- Higher insurance rates, depending on make, model, and configuration
- Varying costs at the pump, depending on state, city, and county
Source: Car & Driver, Perch Energy, AutoWeek
