Why can hybrid cars go in carpool lanes if they are meant to be efficient at lower speeds?

Question

Stil makes no sense, if the hybrid is spose to be more efficient at lower speeds why put it where it has to go at higher speeds and consume more fuel

Answer 1

you answerd your on question with lower speed.... far right hand lane is the slow lane car pool lane and left hand lanes are for faster cars and passing

Answer 2

Every car on the freeway is more efficient at lower speeds.  In that case, why allow any  cars into the carpool lane where they go faster and use more gas?

Answer 3

Initially, states wanted to promote the purchase of hybrids and other advanced-technology vehicles for fuel efficiency and reduced smog. They decided to begin by opening up High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes.. In 2004, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill to allow as many as 75,000 drivers of single-occupant hybrid vehicles to receive decals to use carpool lanes in the state. The new law  took effect January 1, 2005. Federal funds help pay for carpool lanes. The law eases commutes, helps reduce dependency on foreign oil and makes the air cleaner at the same time. Cars that initially met the requirements for averaging 45 mpg included the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic. When the law was passed in California, 50,000 drivers of single-occupant hybrids were awarded stickers to use the lanes. Now, the DMV in California has limited the number of stickers to 85,000--and there is a backlog of 700 applications for these decals. There have been some complaints from a few parties that allowing too many hybrids in these lanes could ultimately cause more congestion.

A number of states have or will pass similar legislation to allow hybrids to use carpool lanes. States include: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.

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Answer 4

The only reason was to encourage people to buy them, the notion being that they're extremely high MPG and thus good for the environment.  (which is largely B.S. because extremely high MPG cars like the Civic CRX HF, Geo Metro and Rabbit Diesel don't get to use the carpool lane.)

Toyota has good lobbyists.  Note that American hybrids DON'T get to use the carpool lane.   Also note that a TRUE electric car doesn't get to use the carpool lane even though it NEEDS it for range, because most electrics are conversions done by home hobbyists, and thus are not "officially certified".

At this point, northern California carpool lanes are glutted to the point where they're not much faster.  (that actually makes them ideal for electric cars, happiest at 35-45 mph).  There can only be so many carpool stickers issued before the carpool lanes snot up, and that's happened.

Now with true plug-in hybrids and true EVs reaching commercial production, I really think the carpool lane stickers are wasted on "weak hybrids" like the Prius.