DRIVERS who have gotten used to using the carpool lane in California to avoid heavy traffic are in for unfortunate news.
The state’s Clean Air Vehicle decal program — which gave electric cars access to HOV lanes — is coming to an end in October.
As per the California DMV, federal regulations that allowed states to issue the decals will expire on September 30.
That means starting October 1, drivers with single-occupant EVs will no longer be able to drive in carpool lanes just by showing a decal on their bumper.
“I got it in 2020, and I use it all the time. I love it,” Tesla driver Sammy Sida told NBC local outlet KNSD.
Sida said his CAV decal shaved valuable time off his commute between San Diego and Los Angeles.
“In heavy traffic, especially on [State Route] 91, it’s about 30 minutes for me,” he told NBC San Diego.
Come October, he’ll have to add those 30 minutes back to his daily grind.
The DMV says more than 500,000 vehicles statewide will be affected by the change.
“The federal government’s decision to eliminate this smart and popular program will hurt hundreds of thousands of California drivers,” the DMV said in a statement to KNSD.
“It’s a lose-lose situation and the state is now looking at other options.”
The agency also confirmed it will stop accepting applications of CAV decals on August 29.
Not every EV owner is upset, though.
“I’ve never gotten a clean air decal,” Tesla driver Josh Geller told KNSD.
“Most of the time I am by myself, and I probably should, but it never occurred to me, and I also didn’t want to put a sticker on my car.”
California Air Resources Board spokesperson Lindsey Buckley said the program has been running since 1999, but always required federal authorization.
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
“We were notified by the federal government that they would not be extending the program,” Buckley said.
“And so unfortunately, it will be ending at the end of September.”
Buckley also noted that HOV access was a key perk for many EV buyers.
“And certainly, the clean air vehicle decal swings the pot and gives one additional incentive for folks to consider them,” she added.
Local EV advocates agree, saying the policy shift could slow down the state’s push toward clean transportation.
The Electric Vehicle Association of San Diego said the decision is shortsighted, calling it a low-cost program that saves drivers minutes on the road while encouraging cleaner air.
