Hybrids in HOV get another extension (exemption, safer, cars)

[oneasterisk]

HOV exemption extended for 'clean fuel' hybrids - wtop.com

[VRE332]

What bothers me is there are Gas only vehicles that are just as good as hybrids

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/***/bestworst.shtml (broken link)

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by VRE332

What bothers me is there are Gas only vehicles that are just as good as hybrids

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/***/bestworst.shtml (broken link)

I agree. And at highway speeds, most hybrids aren't at their best performance. So as they are flying down the HOV lanes, they aren't getting their best mileage. They are running on their regular gas engine at that point.

[Ashburnite]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I agree. And at highway speeds, most hybrids aren't at their best performance. So as they are flying down the HOV lanes, they aren't getting their best mileage. They are running on their regular gas engine at that point.

In most cases that's true. But when a hybrid driver takes his/her foot off the accelerator the engine turns off and the battery takes over - basically just coasting. At least that's true of the Prius. I can't say if it's true of a big honking SUV "hybrid."

[Ashburnite]

I wonder what the actual real life mileage of the various cars is. Supposedly the Prius gets an average of 44mpg but in our experience over the past two years we've averaged about 50. But we mostly use it for highway driving and try to drive it in a manner to optimize the technology.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Ashburnite

In most cases that's true. But when a hybrid driver takes his/her foot off the accelerator the engine turns off and the battery takes over - basically just coasting. At least that's true of the Prius. I can't say if it's true of a big honking SUV "hybrid."

I can guarantee you that most hybrids that travel with me on the HOV lanes do not have their foot OFF the gas. They are doing the speed limit and then some--no coasting going on there.

[mississippimagnolia]

Those little roller skate hybrids scare me to death. I know there are some that are larger and safer. But I always see the ones that look like go-carts flying in the HOV lane. I cannot even imagine what one of those would look like after a high speed crash.

[Ashburnite]

Originally Posted by mississippimagnolia

Those little roller skate hybrids scare me to death. I know there are some that are larger and safer. But I always see the ones that look like go-carts flying in the HOV lane. I cannot even imagine what one of those would look like after a high speed crash.

Which ones are those? I don't think there's a hybrid out there smaller than a Corolla or Civic...?

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by Ashburnite

Which ones are those? I don't think there's a hybrid out there smaller than a Corolla or Civic...?

The original Honda Insight was the smallest, and a two seater. I'm not sure if mississippimagnolia is referring to a smart car 'cause those seem to be even smaller. I doubt they're in HOV though as they're not hybrids nor can they fit 3 people.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by VRE332

What bothers me is there are Gas only vehicles that are just as good as hybrids

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/***/bestworst.shtml (broken link)

You know that new cadillac escalade hybrid. My mother's 04 Buick SUV gets better mileage than that stupid cadillac.

Thankfully I saw on the HOV website that there will be some hybrids excluded. Personally, I would keep the HOV lanes for motorcycles and HOV-3 ONLY. The motorcycles actually get better gas mileage than most cars and HOV-3 helps to take a lot of cars off the road.