hybrids get them off HOV

Wagonman, Are you saying the state doesn't count? That States should not tax - or provide incentives? Are you nuts?

We should all be thanking the VA Legislatures for their vision in allowing the hybrid exemption. I know it's hard, but just imagine what the gas prices could have been if we did not have so many hybrids in our area. Because the hybrids reduce the DEMAND for gas, when the SUPPLY dropped, the PRICE did not rise as much as it could have.

What we need more than ever is for the state to provide as much incentive as possible for there to be more, not less, vehicles with hybrid technology. Perhaps one way is to legislate that no vehicles can be licensed in the state starting in 2007 that can't meet the hybrid emission standard or the gas mileage. Another is to extend the exemption. After all, the express lanes with SOV hybrids and motorcyles still move an average of 35mph faster than the regular lanes.

Excuse me but what is going to happen to all the millions of cars in Virginia that don't meet your hybrid gas mileage standard? Jeez. You must have gone to Harvard.

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Originally posted by NoSUV
[br]Wagonman, Are you saying the state doesn't count? That States should not tax - or provide incentives? Are you nuts?

We should all be thanking the VA Legislatures for their vision in allowing the hybrid exemption. I know it's hard, but just imagine what the gas prices could have been if we did not have so many hybrids in our area. Because the hybrids reduce the DEMAND for gas, when the SUPPLY dropped, the PRICE did not rise as much as it could have.

What we need more than ever is for the state to provide as much incentive as possible for there to be more, not less, vehicles with hybrid technology. Perhaps one way is to legislate that no vehicles can be licensed in the state starting in 2007 that can't meet the hybrid emission standard or the gas mileage. Another is to extend the exemption. After all, the express lanes with SOV hybrids and motorcyles still move an average of 35mph faster than the regular lanes.

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Hug a slug today

It's really quite simple - you allow all previous cars an exemption, similar to what is done with air bags. Just ensure that all newly licensed vehicles meet hybrid standards. Solves numerous problems at once - environment, consumption...

NoSUV,

You're absolutely right about the need for alternative approaches to "gas guzzlers". Seems the market for the hybrid electric/gas combo has reached such a point that the exemption is no longer necessary. Remove the exemption, have hybrid drivers carry the requisite HOV numbers and life will be better for all involved in the commute.

I like you're thinking, except the part (which you don't say too explicitly) about keeping the exemption in place.


NoSb

SOV because you can, HOV because you care!

quote:

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Originally posted by NoSUV
[br]Wagonman, Are you saying the state doesn't count? That States should not tax - or provide incentives? Are you nuts?

We should all be thanking the VA Legislatures for their vision in allowing the hybrid exemption. I know it's hard, but just imagine what the gas prices could have been if we did not have so many hybrids in our area. Because the hybrids reduce the DEMAND for gas, when the SUPPLY dropped, the PRICE did not rise as much as it could have.

What we need more than ever is for the state to provide as much incentive as possible for there to be more, not less, vehicles with hybrid technology. Perhaps one way is to legislate that no vehicles can be licensed in the state starting in 2007 that can't meet the hybrid emission standard or the gas mileage. Another is to extend the exemption. After all, the express lanes with SOV hybrids and motorcyles still move an average of 35mph faster than the regular lanes.

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What are you talking about? You didn't do too well in reading comprehension did you? I'm saying that the hybrid incentive has outlived is usefulness. I didn't mention any tax or eliminating other incentives. In fact, an increased gas tax is exactly what we need but the politicians are are too weak to do what's right.
There is not a "hybrid emissions standard" so I don't know what you are talking about. We should also praise our VA legislature for having the wisdom to give clean fuel plates to cars that have a dirty tier 2 bin 9 emissions rating. I'm also there are plenty of cars that can exceed the mileage of the Escape hybrid. Why should the Escape get an incentive?
Any incentives should be technology blind. Meaning that the incentive should be solely based on emissions and mileage. Let the best technology be determined by the marketplace.