I see California hates the Volt

[hyperv6]

I just notice California will not let the Volt use the Diamond lane with a single driver and will not extend the additional $5,000 credit to the Volt because it has a tail pipe.

When will the madness in California end?

[regfootball]

Wow. well, it will end when they go bankrupt.

[balthazar]

^ And they've got one foot in the bankruptcy grave and the other on a buttered roller skate right now...

[FAPTurbo]

That diamond lane stuff is moronic. I'm glad they didn't give in to Hybrid driver's wishes up my way. It makes no sense that hybrid drivers should be allowed into that lane, while VW TDI's, and 80's CRX's get better mileage.

[GXT]

I just notice California will not let the Volt use the Diamond lane with a single driver and will not extend the additional $5,000 credit to the Volt because it has a tail pipe.

When will the madness in California end?

Will not?

The Volt doesn't have the required AT-PZEV certification. The Prius, Civic Hybrid, etc. have been AT-PZEV for years. Last I checked, they have tail pipes.

GM seems to be claiming that in 2007 they decided that they wouldn't go for the AT-PZEV standard as it would have held the Volt up for a couple of years. I think GM is now claiming that they will have it by 2012/2013 (IIRC).

But not meeting the AT-PZEV may have already made the Volt less expensive, as one of the requirements of the AT-PZEV standard is a 10 year/150,000 mile warranty on the battery. GM announced only a 8 year 100,000 mile warranty. You might also wonder if that is one of the reasons GM didn't try for the AT-PZEV standard.

I also understand that there is legislation in the works to give the Volt access to the lane. Don't worry, just as the $7,500 federal tax credit was custom tailored to the Volt, so too would I expect that the government will make an exception for the Volt and the HOV.

[hyperv6]

Will not?

The Volt doesn't have the required AT-PZEV certification. The Prius, Civic Hybrid, etc. have been AT-PZEV for years. Last I checked, they have tail pipes.

GM seems to be claiming that in 2007 they decided that they wouldn't go for the AT-PZEV standard as it would have held the Volt up for a couple of years. I think GM is now claiming that they will have it by 2012/2013 (IIRC).

But not meeting the AT-PZEV may have already made the Volt less expensive, as one of the requirements of the AT-PZEV standard is a 10 year/150,000 mile warranty on the battery. GM announced only a 8 year 100,000 mile warranty. You might also wonder if that is one of the reasons GM didn't try for the AT-PZEV standard.

I also understand that there is legislation in the works to give the Volt access to the lane. Don't worry, just as the $7,500 federal tax credit was custom tailored to the Volt, so too would I expect that the government will make an exception for the Volt and the HOV.

Just passing along the story I read in the Arizona Express News. They make no mention of California making any such moves. Passing the car to Texas and other states sooner may be part of the reason here. It will be interesting to see how other more stable states deal with it.

[GXT]

Just passing along the story I read in the Arizona Express News. They make no mention of California making any such moves. Passing the car to Texas and other states sooner may be part of the reason here. It will be interesting to see how other more stable states deal with it.

I'd switch sources... or at least get another one to double-check.

[SoCalCTS]

The state is plenty stable. If we could just boot out the remaining Republicans in the state government including the governor our budget deficit would be gone for about $20/week in extra taxes.

As a Californian, I'm opposed to any single passenger cars in the HOV lane unless they want to pay a toll for the privilege.

[Robert Hall]

I'd switch sources... or at least get another one to double-check.

Yeah, I live in AZ, and have never heard of 'Arizona Express News'...the Arizona Republic is the big paper here.

[hyperv6]

Yeah, I live in AZ, and have never heard of 'Arizona Express News'...the Arizona Republic is the big paper here.

It was reprinted in many other papers. I saw it in the local Akron Beacon Journal.

I just love how so many in CA get all righteous on the enviroment and then drive from LA to San Deigo 95-100 MPH.

CA is a nice place to visit and I visit often but it makes me so glad to come home after a week.

Edited August 10, 2010 by hyperv6

[regfootball]

what is not quite right is to be all about the environment, and then live like 50-60 miles from work and put 100-120 miles or whatever on your car to get there.

Anyone who does that, I don't care if its out of necessity or whatever, has no reason to criticize non hybrids and the like.

The guy who drives the Tahoe 3 miles to work is far more green and a lot less of a tax on the road and its services than the supposedly green person who can't practice what they preach and work close to where they live. If you're really committed to being green its super hypocritical to drive long distances to work everyday.

[Robert Hall]

CA is a nice place to visit and I visit often but it makes me so glad to come home after a week.

Every time I visit So Cal I don't want to go home. But then again, I have to come home to AZ..

[Robert Hall]

what is not quite right is to be all about the environment, and then live like 50-60 miles from work and put 100-120 miles or whatever on your car to get there.

Long commutes are just part of life in many metro areas..can't exactly sell your house and move every time you change jobs...in Phoenix, my commute has varied from 6 miles each way up to 27 miles each way over the last two years...I've stuck w/ my 18mpg SUV w/ no complaints for those commutes. I'm sure if I were in So Cal my commute would be the same or longer, and I'd have the same SUV or a bigger one (or a full size car).

Edited August 10, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[hyperv6]

what is not quite right is to be all about the environment, and then live like 50-60 miles from work and put 100-120 miles or whatever on your car to get there.

Anyone who does that, I don't care if its out of necessity or whatever, has no reason to criticize non hybrids and the like.

The guy who drives the Tahoe 3 miles to work is far more green and a lot less of a tax on the road and its services than the supposedly green person who can't practice what they preach and work close to where they live. If you're really committed to being green its super hypocritical to drive long distances to work everyday.

It kind of goes with the You Are with US 100% or You're Are Against US idealology.

[hyperv6]

Every time I visit So Cal I don't want to go home. But then again, I have to come home to AZ..

I love California and know it well enough to get anywhere in LA and San Diego with out a map. But with each trip it just gets harder and harder to get around. I miss it back in the late 80's when I thought it was tought to get around only to find we had it good.

I make the rounds of some of the race shops and Race MFG when I am out there and it takes so long to get to in between them anymore.

At least it's good I have a lot of family out there as it save a lot on stays so it does make a affordable vacation. My only issue is some of them are thinking of coming back to Ohio. They are getting tired of the cost of living.

[Robert Hall]

At least it's good I have a lot of family out there as it save a lot on stays so it does make a affordable vacation. My only issue is some of them are thinking of coming back to Ohio. They are getting tired of the cost of living.

I've thought about moving back to Ohio, but it's such a depressing thought. As the song lyrics go, 'Nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town'. No future, only the past to cling to.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Croc]

I just love how so many in CA get all righteous on the enviroment and then drive from LA to San Deigo 95-100 MPH.

LA to SD in 70-90 minutes at that speed. Hmmm, I bet that's a lot cheaper for the wallet, and a lot better for the environment than taking a commuter airplane, yea? Faster than the train, too!

[hyperv6]

I've thought about moving back to Ohio, but it's such a depressing thought. As the song lyrics go, 'Nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town'. No future, only the past to cling to.

Only if you are in Cleveland, Toledo or Youngstown. Coulmbus and the rest of use are doing pretty fine.

In Akron Goodyears building new headquarters and Firestone Bridgestone is building a new large tech Center. The only real issues in Akron anymore is Coyote's, Deer and a random Bear are becoming a problem. A guy near by hit a bear in a Grans Am. Killed the Bear and messed the car up pretty well.

The only thing not growing is MFG with the Gov, his taxes we have and the hold over unions no own wants to do much with new plants. They need to learn from the UAW in Lordstown and work with the companies and gain jobs. Other wise they will just go else where.

They are also finding out that letting in the Casino's is not going to help anything.

[pow]

Will not?

The Volt doesn't have the required AT-PZEV certification. The Prius, Civic Hybrid, etc. have been AT-PZEV for years. Last I checked, they have tail pipes.

GM seems to be claiming that in 2007 they decided that they wouldn't go for the AT-PZEV standard as it would have held the Volt up for a couple of years. I think GM is now claiming that they will have it by 2012/2013 (IIRC).

But not meeting the AT-PZEV may have already made the Volt less expensive, as one of the requirements of the AT-PZEV standard is a 10 year/150,000 mile warranty on the battery. GM announced only a 8 year 100,000 mile warranty. You might also wonder if that is one of the reasons GM didn't try for the AT-PZEV standard.

I also understand that there is legislation in the works to give the Volt access to the lane. Don't worry, just as the $7,500 federal tax credit was custom tailored to the Volt, so too would I expect that the government will make an exception for the Volt and the HOV.

So while the Volt won't meet AT-PZEV emissions standards, which makes it ineligible for CA tax credits, it will be able to travel in HOV lanes with only one driver:

As lawmakers worked late into the night Monday, the second to last day of the 2009-10 legislative session, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took some action of his own, signing into law a measure expanding the list of environmentally friendly cars that qualify for permits to use carpool lanes.

The measure will allow up to 40,000 more California motorists to drive solo in the special lanes. It also extends the lifespan of existing permits for hybrid and electric vehicles. The bill, SB 535 by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by General Motors, would provide thousands of permits for new models of fuel-efficient cars, including G.M.'s Chevrolet Volt, due out later this year, as well as the new [plug-in] Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf.

The measure, which now includes plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell cars, was opposed by some lawmakers who say carpool lanes are getting too congested because of all the special permits for solo drivers. But Yee said his bill was needed because new cars are being built with technology that was not available when the state began permitting fuel-efficient cars to use carpool lanes.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legis-20100831,0,4771210.story?track=rss

These plug-in cars will get silver stickers; the gold "HOV Access OK" stickers for the old Prius, Civic Hybrid, and Gen 1 Insight will expire at the end of the year.

GM say the Volt will eventually meet PZEV standards by MY 2013, but the tax credits will be gone by then. Ironically, this means the current Impala 3.5L emits fewer smog-forming emissions than a Volt in extended-range mode.

[Nick]

I don't care that it can't use the carpool lane. In fact, I am glad it can't. I think it is bull$h! that hybrids can use the carpool lane (granted, I do understand the original aim of the carpool lane was to reduce fuel consumption, which is why I am glad that, as a motorcyclist, I am allowed to use it).

[pow]

I don't care that it can't use the carpool lane. In fact, I am glad it can't. I think it is bull$h! that hybrids can use the carpool lane (granted, I do understand the original aim of the carpool lane was to reduce fuel consumption, which is why I am glad that, as a motorcyclist, I am allowed to use it).

What I just posted above says Volt *can* use the carpool lane...

[Nick]

Yeah, I didn't read that. Now I do hate it.

[pow]

Hm, so apparently initial Volts won't be able to travel solo on HOV lanes. The AT-PZEV requirement still stands. However, unlike the tax credits, which will have been gobbled up by the time an AT-PZEV Volt becomes available, it's unlikely the same will happen for HOV stickers, since 40,000 will be issued.

It's mind boggling how GM didn't engineer a supposedly "clean air" vehicle to PZEV emission standards. I don't think any of their past or current hybrids are PZEV either.

[SoCalCTS]

They just passed a law to let the Volts use the HOV lanes.

So much for this thread.