Originally, HOV lane access for EVs was genius. Reward the early EV adopters, push cleaner tech, reduce gridlock. But now? It’s just another loophole for rich guys in private tanks. The statute ends in September 2025. Good. Let’s rebuild the program around efficiency—not just electric vanity whips with 9,000-pound curb weights.

HOV EV perks were meant to reduce emissions, not reward bulk

Since 1998, single-occupant EVs have enjoyed HOV lane access under the Clean Air Vehicle Decal program. But the federal statute backing this ends September 30. After that, states must either restrict HOV access or convince Congress to extend the exception.

The rule was simple: let low-emission and energy-efficient vehicles use the HOV lane “with only one occupant.” It helped kickstart EV adoption when Teslas still had nosecones and Nissan Leafs dominated the quirky professor market.

But the world’s changed. The Hummer EV weighs over 9,000 pounds and gets 1.6 miles per kilowatt-hour. That’s embarrassing.

Let me put that another way. Sadly, the U.S. still burns coal to produce much of its electricity. The Hummer EV eats up the electrical equivalent of 1.824 pounds of coal EVERY MILE. And yet it qualifies for HOV lane access—no passengers required. How does that make sense?

It’s time to rethink what qualifies as an EV efficient enough for the HOV lane

Congress gave states leeway to tighten standards. According to the DOT, “authorities may also implement other requirements… such as caps on the number of eligible vehicles or vehicle class or weight restrictions.”

And if HOV lanes get too crowded? The feds require action: “authorities must take necessary actions, such as limiting… the use of HOV facilities by the subject vehicles.” It’s baked into the law.

So why not fix this now?

Give HOV stickers to cars that sip electricity. Not chug. “Authorities may choose to allow only low emission and energy-efficient vehicles that can demonstrate an 85 percent increase in city fuel economy.” That’s already in the code. Use it.

Reward the EVs that stretch a kilowatt-hour. Penalize the ones that treat it like unleaded. HOV EV access should go to the light, lean, everyday commuters—not tanks with an extension cord.

Let the clock run out on this outdated exemption. Then replace it with something better: a system that gives HOV perks to the cleanest, leanest EVs—not the ones that barely beat a gas-powered Silverado in energy use. It’s 2025. Let’s stop rewarding the wrong kind of electric.