Thank you for your message to the California Air Resources Board regarding hybrid vehicle incentives. We have been informed of a tax credit being offered to both electric and hybrid vehicle owners by the United States Internal Revenue Service. Additional information can be found on our website at: <br><br> <a href=http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/incentiv.htm target=new>http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/incentiv.htm</a> <br><br>Other than the federal tax credit, we are not aware of any other incentives related to hybrid vehicles. The reason is because the incentives the state of California currently offers are based upon total emissions rather than type of engine. While the current hybrid vehicles on offer are very interesting vehicles, they do not have any cleaner emissions than other gasoline powered vehicles of the same category. Where hybrids real strength lies in that they offer a combination of relative low emissions for the high fuel economy the achieve. Similar MPG rating were in the past only seen on diesel vehicles. And while a high MPG does not translate into cleaner air for California, it does help conserve precious resources. As hybrid development continues we expect that their emissions will continue to drop and other models may qualify for the state clean air incentives. <br><br>Thank you again for your message and should you have any questions or need further assistance please contact us at (800) 242-4450. <br><br>The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian <br>needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For <br>a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy <br>cost, see our web site at <a href=http://www.arb.ca.gov/ target=new>http://www.arb.ca.gov/</a>

"The reason is because the incentives the state of California currently offers are based upon total emissions rather than type of engine. While the current hybrid vehicles on offer are very interesting vehicles, they do not have any cleaner emissions than other gasoline powered vehicles of the same category. "<br><br>Ok, I'm not even close to an expert on this, but are they trying to say SULEV = LEV????<br><br>"And while a high MPG does not translate into cleaner air for California, it does help conserve precious resources. "<br><br>Last time I checked, the less gas you use, the less emissions are going into the air. Am I right?<br><br><br>"As hybrid development continues we expect that their emissions will continue to drop and other models may qualify for the state clean air incentives."<br><br>Unless they create an emissions level between SULEV and ZEV, I'd say this would be rather difficult.<br><br>Anyway, as far as incentives go I can sympathize with those who are unable to get them. I'm in Wisconsin...not an incentive in sight. Oh well, at least there is the Federal tax deduction/credit.<br><br>--Jeremy

What are they talking about? The Prius has the same emissions as other "comparible" gasoline powered cars?<br>

Ok, please don't shoot me, I'm just playing the (unsolicited) role of messenger :-)<br><br>As I understand it, the following is CARBs position on hybrids and HOV lanes.<br><br>- HOV lanes are primarily there to reduce the number of cars on the road.<br><br>- CARB considers drastically reduced vehicle emissions (not total emissions) to be important enough to make an exception for those drivers.<br><br>- CARB does not consider gasoline fueled cars to drastically reduce vehicle emissions BECAUSE: when they get old and their emission controls start to fail, they can still be driven, so people tend not to get them fixed. Of particular concern seems to be evaporative emissions, so small fuel leaks really bug them. This is why they don't consider them INHERENTLY low emission vehicles, because they rely on emission control systems that are subject to failure. Electric vehicles don't increase vehicle emissions as they age (though they easily increase total emissions). I suspect CNG fueled vehicles tend to fail dramatically due to the high pressure of the fuel, so owners pretty much have to get them fixed to keep going.<br><br>- There are a small number of SULEV gasoline cars in existance in CA (Nissan made 500 of them). If CARB gave hybrids HOV access because they're SULEV, then they'd also have to give these gasoline cars access. They don't want to because that would encourage automakers to create and sell more gasoline cars that meet SULEV and pretty soon the HOV lanes would be as packed as the other lanes. (Like I said, don't shoot me...)<br><br>As an aside, I notice that a couple people on the Insight group have taken to dribbling gas into their tanks after the pump cuts off in order to fill up the evaporative emissions control canister. This lets them more easily attain the highly prized 800 mile tank. Of course this defeats the operation of the evap canister, so as their Insight warms up, they're probably leaking gas fumes (aka raw hydrocarbons). Maybe they're doing it in revenge for being denied access to HOV :-) With an EV or CNG car (or a better designed evap canister?), they couldn't do this. Don't worry too much, most of the Insight group members are not happy with this behavior and have been condemning it.<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU

Clearly, this is a case of the left hand not being aware of what the right hand is doing. CARB says:<br><br>&lt;&lt; Other than the federal tax credit, we are not aware of any other incentives related to hybrid vehicles. The reason is because the incentives the state of California currently offers are based upon total emissions rather than type of engine. &gt;&gt;<br><br>However, the California Energy Commission says:<br><br>"Eligible vehicles include electric, natural gas, and other alternative fueled vehicles; super-efficient gasoline and diesel vehicles; HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES; and fuel cell vehicles." (emphasis mine)<br><br><a href=http://www.energy.ca.gov/afvs/program_fact_sheets/efficient_vehicle_program\ .html target=new>http://www.energy.ca.gov/afvs/program_fact_sheets/efficient_vehicle_p\ rogram.html</a>