By Steve Levy
One of the bills I’m most proud of having introduced as a state assemblyman over 20 years ago was granting the authority of hybrid and electric vehicles to be able to access the HOV lanes in New York with a single occupant. The purpose was to encourage the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles at a time they were in their infancy.
I personally took advantage of the law and ditched my more expensive cars for a very practical Ford Fusion hybrid that saved me a great deal of time on my rush-hour trips.
Thousands of others did the same but, unfortunately, the federal government, in a decision made in the last administration, is backing out of this HOV access program starting October 1 of this year.
It’s understandable why this might’ve been thought a good idea a year or two ago when everyone was believing that the electric vehicle mandates were going to have everyone on the road with a hybrid or electric vehicle. But states have been backing off these mandates due to public opposition to them. EVs are expensive and still have questions about availability of charging stations.
Given that the EV purchases have not taken off as originally expected, it would make sense to leave the old law in place so that drivers with no passengers can gain access to the lane. I know if I had that incentive, I would’ve kept my hybrid and purchased a new one.
A survey in California showed that almost 60% of those who bought a hybrid vehicle did so in part because they wanted to gain access to the HOV lane.
It’s not too late for the feds and New York State to take note.