Piety is rewarded!

[drscott]

I got my California "Clean Air Vehicle" HOV lane stickers in the mail today. After the two-month-long process (wit for license number, wait for Fastrak transponder required for Bay Area stikcers, wait for DMV to issue stickers...) I now have to apply them; any error in positioning will be permanent. The color clashes with my Prius' silver metallic paint. I will rarely need them (but those few times will be very helpful.) Meanwhile, the newspaper reports that Congress' hybrid tax credit will, as planned, discriminate against Toyota because it has been too successful in selling hybrids -- the tax credit will be cut in half for Toyota hybrids purchased after Sept. 30th. Only an idiot would buy, say, a Ford hybrid over a Toyota/Lexus because of a tax credit difference, but it again points out how the US auto industry and old-line unions retain the power to subvert CAFE and block foreign competitors.

Comments

[pagerbear.livejournal.com]

I don't understand--Toyota has been too successful in selling hybrids, so Congress is giving incentives to not buy Toyotas?

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

The incentive program was carefully designed to be cut off for Toyota (and soon, Honda) while remaining in full force for US makes (who aren;t very good at selling hybrids.)

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Mostly because their (Ford, et al US autos) hybrids *suck* and are mostly "hybrid" to gain low-end torque and 0-60MPH times, not to improve MPG.

Ironic, isn't it!

[markbuster.livejournal.com]

I really don't agree with the law that allows diamond lanes to be used by hybrids. It does nothing to reduce conjestion, and most hybrids get worse gas milleage than small cars.

[sfmini.livejournal.com]

The company Prius has those stickers on them. I think they are the ugliest thing I ever saw. Who paying $30k+ for a car would want to put stickers all over it? I can see having one sticker in a prominent place, but not 4.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

..and for the Prius, at least, totally unnecessary. I don't think cops have any trouble differentiating them from other cars, and the only reason for the stickers is to make it easy to enforce the car pool lane law.