The state of California is easing the commute for 75,000 drivers of certain hybrid vehicles.

Drivers of the Toyota Prius, the hybrid Honda Civic and the Honda Insight can now apply for a special display label than will enable them to drive in the carpool lane as single occupants in their vehicle.

Also a new Federal energy bill offers a sizeable tax deduction to people who buy new hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles after January 1, 2006. For SF State faculty, staff, and students who own, or are thinking about buying a new hybrid these extra perks make the vehicle purchase an even better one.

“I think the carpool lane benefits and tax deduction is fantastic,” said Geraldine Martin who works as a receptionist at the student health center and owns a Toyota Prius.

Owners of only three of the seven hybrids on the market, the Toyota Prius, the hybrid Honda Civic, and the Honda Insight must apply for the yellow carpool decal from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Applications can be found on the DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov descrip

. The state is only issuing 75,000 labels on a first come first serve basis. As of June 2005, the DMV reported 57,164 hybrids registered in California.

“The state is only issuing 75,000 display labels in order to control the number of vehicles in the carpool lane and maintain traffic on the freeways,” said Dimitra Stanich, a spokesman for the California Air Resources Board. “Hybrid vehicles must meet the state’s PZEV (a partial zero-emission vehicle) standards to qualify so we have the least amount of pollutant emissions on the highways.”

An $8 fee for the special carpool sticker is required and Bay Area drivers must pay $40 for a Fastrak transponder. Hybrid drivers with the display label are permitted to drive in the carpool lane on Bay Area bridges, but they must pay bridge toll unless they have two, three or more passengers in their car (depending on the bridge). Proof of the transponder purchase is required to apply for the carpool display label.

Noelia Mendoza, an academic technician for the Center for Enhancement of Teaching at SF State and her husband SF State alumnus Darren De Leon debated applying for the carpool display label for the Prius they have owned for the past seven months.

“We live on the Peninsula and commute to San Francisco, the only carpool lane we use is the two-mile stretch starting at Hillsdale Blvd. going to San Francisco on the 101 northbound,” said De Leon. “We decided it was worth it for car-trips to southern California.”

The low-emission travelers have taken their Prius on several road-trips and the couple is ecstatic about the amount of money they save on gasoline from driving a hybrid.

“We can make it to Los Angeles and back on one tank of gas costing us $40,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza, De Leon and Martin are also celebrating the $3,150 tax break they will receive this year for being Toyota Prius owners. Thanks to the energy bill that President Bush signed on Aug. 8 buyers of most hybrids purchased at the beginning of this year will receive the tax credit. Tax deductions vary by model of the hybrid vehicle, fuel efficiency, and the amount of gasoline the car will save compared with a similar car in the same weight class.

Potential hybrid buyers should buy quickly if they want to receive a hefty tax deduction. The tax deductions will start to decrease after the first 60,000 hybrids have been sold by the automaker. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that the Toyota Prius will receive the highest tax break in comparison to the $250 estimated tax deduction the hybrid Chevrolet Silverado two-wheel drive pickup is anticipated to get. The automatic transmission hybrid Honda Civic is anticipated to receive a $2,100 tax deduction.

Martin is looking forward to more potential rewards in her future for being a Toyota Prius owner.
“I hope the government will do more to encourage more people to buy hybrids, I want to save some of this planet for my grandchildren,” said Martin.