It’s official: Yesterday, the governor signed into law SB 535.  Together with AB 1500, the new laws spell out the next phase of carpool lane privileges for alternative fuel vehicles.

As reported previously, white decal carpool stickers will be extended until January 1, 2015 for zero emission vehicles.  There are an unlimited number of these decals and you can apply for one now, if you happen to have one of the few vehicles available that is pure electric or runs on compressed natural gas.  More importantly, the Nissan Leaf, when it debuts later this year in California will qualify for the white decal.

GM’s Chevy Volt will NOT qualify, because it is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it has a gas engine in additional to an electric motor.  As such, it is not a zero emission vehicle, and cannot get the white decal.    This is why GM sponsored SB 535 which creates a new class of carpool decals for the next generation of plug-in hybrids.   These new decals will become available starting January 1, 2012 and be limited to 40,000 vehicles.

The coming generation of plug-in hybrids will be called “enhanced advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicles”, as compared to today’s hybrids, which are classified as “advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicles.”   This distinction will allow the plug-in hybrids to qualify for the new carpool stickers, while current versions of Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid will not.

Owners of carpool hybrids with the yellow decal got there privileges extended until July 1, 2011.    After that, the yellow decals expire permanently.

What all this means is that if you currently drive a hybrid with a carpool sticker, you’ll be able to keep driving in the HOV lanes until July, 2011.  After that, if you want to keep driving in the carpool lanes, you’ll either have to upgrade to a Nissan Leaf, which should be widely available by then, or buy a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt, and wait six months for the new carpool stickers to be issued.   All carpool stickers will expire in January, 2015.

Recent activity in Sacramento and new technology coming to market means that changes are in store for which vehicles will qualify for single occupant use of the HOV lanes in California.   Much of what has appeared in the media has been confusing, inconsistent, or just incorrect.

Here’s a recap of what we know as of now…

1. Yellow Stickers-  85,000 of of these were issued to qualifying hybrids, of which there were three: 1) Toyota Prius, 2) Honda Civic Hybrid, and 3) Honda Insight (only 2000-2004).   The only way to get one of these stickers is to buy a car that already has one.   One small loophole: If you own a car with issued decals, and that car is in a wreck and declared salvage, you can get a replacement sticker to put on another qualifying hybrid.   All yellow stickers were scheduled to expire January 1, 2011. New law SB 535 would extend that date to July 1, 2011, after which the yellow stickers would be history.  SB 535 was just passed, and goes to the governor’s desk for signature.

You can get the latest status and read more about the bill here:  http://totalcapitol.com/?bill_id=200920100SB535

2.  White stickers-  Far less known, there have been an unlimited number of white stickers available for cars that are  pure zero emission vehicles.  That would include pure electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and compressed natural gas (CNG).  AB 1500 extends the life of these stickers four years from 1/1/11 to 1/1/15.  Here are the most common vehicles that qualify today for the white stickers:  Tesla Roadster, Honda FXC Clarity (fuel cell) and Honda Civic GX (CNG).  There are a number of other vehicles that qualify and you can get the official list here:
http://arbis.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm

3. New stickers-  Here’s where it gets interesting.  SB 535 would require the DMV “… to issue up to 40,000 identifiers , that are distinguishable from the identifiers issued for low-emission, hybrid, and alternative fuel vehicles, to vehicles that meet Californias enhanced advanced technology partial zero-emission vehicle (enhanced AT PZEV) standard…”  The key word here being “enhanced”.   The expectation is that this would apply to the next generation  of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles with gas engine assist, like the Chevy Volt.

Until that law is signed, the upcoming Nissan Leaf would qualify for a white sticker, because it is a pure electric vehicle, whereas the Chevy Volt would not, because it is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it can run on its gas engine as well.

The most likely outcome is that if you own a conventional hybrid, like the Prius and Civic Hybrid, you will be able to continue using the yellow stickers until next July.  After that, you’ll either have to get a pure zero emission vehicle which can qualify for the white sticker, or one of the next generation hybrids that will qualify for the new sticker.

Stay tuned for more updates. And if you have specific questions or comments, post your comment below!

This week we found out what’s going to happen to all those yellow HOV decals that hybrid owners have prized and that were scheduled to expire in January, 2011.

The good news is that you’ll get an extra six months.  The carpool stickers were extended until July 1, 2011.   But then the carpool privilege for hybrid owners will end for good.

On Monday, the CA state Assembly approved legislation that amends and extends the carpool rules.  SB 535 would phase out the yellow HOV decals for hybrids owners in July, 2011.   At the same time, a white HOV decal will be available for up to 40,000 owners of electric and alternative fuel vehicles, including the next generation of plug-in hybrids.   Those stickers will be valid through 2015.

So if you cherish your carpool lane privileges, start saving for your next eligible vehicle.