California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Allowing Hybrids to Use Carpool Lanes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. September 24, 2004; Steve Lawrence writing for the AP reported that rebuffing lobbying by the chairman of Ford Motor Co., Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Thursday that will let thousands of single-occupant hybrid vehicles use carpool lanes.

Supporters hope that will prompt more consumers to buy the fuel-efficient, low-emission cars.

The bill allows up to 75,000 hybrids to obtain decals from the state to use carpool lanes without having to have the minimum number of two or three occupants. Certain other advanced-technology vehicles could also qualify for the program.

To obtain the decals, the vehicles would have to get at least 45 miles per gallon and meet tough emission standards.

"This bill is great for California," said the measure's author, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills. "It eases our commutes. It saves us money at the pump, reduces our dependency on foreign oil and cleans our air at the same time."

The new law is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, but it also needs federal approval to be implemented because federal funds help pay for carpool lanes. A bill pending in Congress would grant that approval.

Pavley's legislation will expire in 2008 unless extended by lawmakers.

Opponents complained that the legislation would lead to congested carpool lanes and undercut their purpose, which is to reduce overall traffic.

The bill requires the state Transportation Department to suspend hybrid access to any of the 1,112 miles of carpool lanes in California that become overcrowded.

The bill was supported by state Treasurer Phil Angelides, who could be Schwarzenegger's Democratic opponent in 2006 if the governor runs for re-election, and Schwarzenegger's Environmental Protection secretary, Terry Tamminen.

It was opposed by Ford Motor chairman Bill Ford, who wrote Schwarzenegger a letter urging him to veto the bill. Ford called the legislation a "buy Japanese bill" that would primarily benefit owners of the Toyota Prius.

The Prius and the Honda Insight and Civic hybrids qualify for the decals, but Ford has no vehicle that does. Its new Escape hybrid is expected to get only about 35 mpg.

Pavley said Toyota lobbyists had no influence in how the bill was written and had pushed unsuccessfully for a lower gasoline mileage threshold to qualify for the decals.

California already allows battery- and natural-gas-powered vehicles and motorcycles to use carpool lanes without meeting the occupancy requirements. Hybrids run on a combination of gasoline engines and electric motors.

On the Net: Read the bill, AB1493, at www.assembly.ca.gov