According to a story on USA Today, Californians seem willing to pay as much as $4,000 more for a hybrid vehicle with the state issued carpool stickers than for hybrids that don't have it.
These stickers allow the drivers of these cars to enter the carpool lane on freeways, even if they are the only person in the car.
The demand for these vehicles have skyrocketed since the state quit issuing the stickers last month once they hit a self-imposed cap of 85,000 stickers. The stickers are valid until 2011 and luckily they stay with the car when it is sold. The only vehicles that can still get the stickers are those that run on natural gas, batteries or hydrogen. I guess people will have to start buying the Civic GX.
The only hybrids that actually qualified for the stickers were the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic because they met the emissions and gas mileage requirements.
Since there aren't any new stickers being issued buyers are willing to pay a premium for the used models with the stickers according to Kelley Blue Book. In addition to saving gas and polluting less, the used cars are even more desirable for the carpool lane benefit. On average the carpool lanes in LA and San Francisco save about 30 minutes a day.
Are you willing to pay $4,000 more for a car just to use the carpool lane? Seems a little much to me.
Full Story: USA Today
Comments (12)
30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year = 125 hours / year valued $4k. That's costing $32/hour saved neglecting any fringe benefits that faster trips might yield. That seems high but the sticker is good for over 4.5 years so it drops down to a cost of ~$7/hour saved on commuting for the "average" LA or SF commuter which is not too bad. If you were an un-average user who could save an hour or more per day and only payed $3k "extra" for the sticker it starts to look down right cheap. When put in perspective it's not that much money and certainly a much better investment then a custom exhaust system and body kit even if it isn't as cool.
Cost aside, I live in Seattle and I hate rush hour traffic with a burning passion. I think there are many people here who would gladly pay a lot more than $4k for the right to drive in an un-congested carpool lane whenever they felt like it for 4 years. Unfortunately for us our carpool lanes are really only good for speeding during light traffic and most are nearly pointless during rush hour, if there even is one at a given stretch of freeway...
Posted by Flasher702 | April 16, 2007 5:54 PM
Posted on April 16, 2007 17:54
The very first poll on the polling site A Popularity Contest.
Should hybrid vehicles stay out of the commuter lane if there is only one person in the car?
So far they are saying yes. Here is the poll: http://www.apopularitycontest.com/display_poll.php?ID=1
Posted by Rob | June 8, 2007 7:07 PM
Posted on June 8, 2007 19:07
Cool site. Thanks!
http://sites.blockstar.com/micks/hydrocodone.html hydrocodone 10mg
Posted by hydrocodone lortab | June 8, 2007 11:51 PM
Posted on June 8, 2007 23:51
Nice site. Thanks!
http://rlink.org/5377 house insurance
Posted by healthcare insurance | June 12, 2007 2:40 AM
Posted on June 12, 2007 02:40
Nice site. Thanks!
http://rlink.org/5377 house insurance
Posted by healthcare insurance | June 12, 2007 2:41 AM
Posted on June 12, 2007 02:41
UnoCarDealers offers a variety of used cars & dealers information in California. There are various deals on used cars in California.
Visit Us : http://www.unocardealers.com/us/california/
Posted by Uno Car Dealers | June 14, 2007 5:49 AM
Posted on June 14, 2007 05:49
For your needs --
[url=][/url]
Posted by melina ocf | July 9, 2007 9:30 AM
Posted on July 9, 2007 09:30
For your needs --
[url=][/url]
Posted by melina ocf | July 9, 2007 9:30 AM
Posted on July 9, 2007 09:30
For your needs --
[url=][/url]
Posted by melina ocf | July 9, 2007 9:30 AM
Posted on July 9, 2007 09:30
Glad to see this site.
[url=][/url]
Posted by louise | July 10, 2007 7:09 AM
Posted on July 10, 2007 07:09
Glad to see this site.
[url=][/url]
Posted by louise | July 10, 2007 7:09 AM
Posted on July 10, 2007 07:09
Glad to see this site.
[url=][/url]
Posted by louise | July 10, 2007 7:10 AM
Posted on July 10, 2007 07:10