AB 1500 has passed, and from what I understand from the CNGVC, may go to the governor as early as next Monday. The governor apparently has 12 days to act on the bill. If it is not signed (i.e., vetoed), then our HOV access expires at the end of this year. The bill does NOT extend access for hybrids.
I am attaching a copy of a letter that I am sending as a Word document. Do not make your letter identical, but I think the main points are:
In addition to attaching my letter, I am placing a cut and past below:
June 22, 2010
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Assembly Bill 1500 (Lieu) – STRONG SUPPORT
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
I drive a natural gas vehicle every day to take my children to school and myself to work.
I am writing to express strong support for Assembly Bill 1500 which will extend until January 1, 2015 the validity and issuance of the white stickers that allow single occupants (or in my case, 2 occupants in an area where HOV lanes require 3 occupants) to use HOV lanes.
There is one important point I would like to make regarding why the relatively small number of CNG vehicles in the state should continue to be allowed to use the HOV lanes, while the ability of hybrids to use the lanes at the end of the year will sunset.
Hybrids have continued to sell at an increasing rate, even though no new HOV stickers have been issued for hybrids for a number of years. Hybrids are less hassle to drive than ordinary gasoline vehicles – they can be filled at any gas station, and generally have a much larger range per fill-up than comparable gasoline-only vehicles. Hybrid sales will continue to increase without the ability to drive in HOV lanes.
In contrast, driving a CNG vehicle can be more hassle than an ordinary gasoline powered vehicle because places to fill up are few and far between – the entire City and County of San Francisco has 6 (that’s six, not a typo) public CNG stations. The range of a CNG vehicle is also less than a comparable gasoline vehicle and they cost about $5,000 more than comparable gasoline vehicles.
CNG vehicles are the cleanest internal combustion vehicles on the road. It is in the interests of California to keep the existing CNG vehicles on the road, and to encourage individuals to replace their existing gasoline vehicles with CNG vehicles.
The White Clean Car Sticker is a very significant incentive for people to purchase CNG vehicles. If this HOV lane incentive is removed, it will have a serious impact on the individual market for CNG vehicles in California.
I can tell you I am on my second CNG vehicle, but, as much as I loved my first, I would not have bought my second if the HOV lane incentive had been removed. It is even possible that some people will would sell their existing CNG vehicles as the extra hassle would no longer be offset by the HOV incentive.
We need more CNG vehicles on the road not less. The HOV lane access is a practical, low cost way to keep the individual market for CNG vehicles from ending, and to encourage further innovation and development. I urge you to sign the bill to encourage more CNG vehicles..
I am attaching a copy of a letter that I am sending as a Word document. Do not make your letter identical, but I think the main points are:
- NGV vehicles are not hybrids, there are many difficulties involved, e.g., refueling. The hybrid market will do fine without HOV incentives, the individual market for CNG will go away without the HOV incentive.
- There are currently relatively few CNG vehicles, so the HOV incentive is a cheap way to create an incentive and it will have minimal effect on HOV capacity.
- CNG vehicles are the cleanest internal combustion engines around, we need to encourage them, not discourage them.
In addition to attaching my letter, I am placing a cut and past below:
June 22, 2010
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Assembly Bill 1500 (Lieu) – STRONG SUPPORT
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
I drive a natural gas vehicle every day to take my children to school and myself to work.
I am writing to express strong support for Assembly Bill 1500 which will extend until January 1, 2015 the validity and issuance of the white stickers that allow single occupants (or in my case, 2 occupants in an area where HOV lanes require 3 occupants) to use HOV lanes.
There is one important point I would like to make regarding why the relatively small number of CNG vehicles in the state should continue to be allowed to use the HOV lanes, while the ability of hybrids to use the lanes at the end of the year will sunset.
Hybrids have continued to sell at an increasing rate, even though no new HOV stickers have been issued for hybrids for a number of years. Hybrids are less hassle to drive than ordinary gasoline vehicles – they can be filled at any gas station, and generally have a much larger range per fill-up than comparable gasoline-only vehicles. Hybrid sales will continue to increase without the ability to drive in HOV lanes.
In contrast, driving a CNG vehicle can be more hassle than an ordinary gasoline powered vehicle because places to fill up are few and far between – the entire City and County of San Francisco has 6 (that’s six, not a typo) public CNG stations. The range of a CNG vehicle is also less than a comparable gasoline vehicle and they cost about $5,000 more than comparable gasoline vehicles.
CNG vehicles are the cleanest internal combustion vehicles on the road. It is in the interests of California to keep the existing CNG vehicles on the road, and to encourage individuals to replace their existing gasoline vehicles with CNG vehicles.
The White Clean Car Sticker is a very significant incentive for people to purchase CNG vehicles. If this HOV lane incentive is removed, it will have a serious impact on the individual market for CNG vehicles in California.
I can tell you I am on my second CNG vehicle, but, as much as I loved my first, I would not have bought my second if the HOV lane incentive had been removed. It is even possible that some people will would sell their existing CNG vehicles as the extra hassle would no longer be offset by the HOV incentive.
We need more CNG vehicles on the road not less. The HOV lane access is a practical, low cost way to keep the individual market for CNG vehicles from ending, and to encourage further innovation and development. I urge you to sign the bill to encourage more CNG vehicles..
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