Ohio legislators are changing laws that allow any hybrid into the HOV lane. This means that GM's SUV hybrids are no longer allowed in the get-to-work-on-time lanes. House Bill 62, sponsored by state Rep. Todd Kiser, R-Sandy, would bring Ohio in line with the new national standards which only include hybrids that improve mileage by 50 percent in the city or 25 percent overall. Smaller SUV hybrids like the hybrid Toyota Highlander would still be allowed in Ohio's HOV lanes.

So, full size hybrid SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe two-mode hybrid, which only gets an MPG improvement of 40 percent (10 percent shy) will not be allowed in Ohio's HOV lane. The good news is that people who already have the license plate sticker allowing them to drive in the HOV lane by themselves won't get them taken back. New buyers of the Chevy Tahoe two-mode hybrid buyers, though, won't get the sticker. If Ohio does not comply with the national standard, national highway funding could be effected.

So, if you live in Ohio and planned on buying the Tahoe hybrid soon, do it now before the law changes and you lose this perk. What do you think readers: is the EPA wrong to exclude Chevy's SUV hybrids or did GM just make 'em too big?

Related:

• How SUVs screwed up the idea of hybrids
• AltWheels Video: GM describes Tahoe hybrid as a "big ass hybrid," Sir Mix-A-Lot would be proud
• Which hybrids are - and are not - welcomed in the HOV lane
  
• Stupid hybrid perk: no emissions test
  
• Hybrids getting a free ride in HOV lane

[Source: Salt Lake Tribune]

Hybrids have lots of perks. Many states allow hybrids to use the HOV lane when a single person is driving, park at parking meters without paying and not get ticketed, etc. I support state and local government trying to encourage the use of clean cars. Except the state of Virgina which has a very stupid hybrid perk: Code of Virginia (§46.2-1178.B.1.) states hybrid vehicles that get over 50 MPG are "exempted from the vehicle emissions inspection requirement." One hybrid driver even complained in a letter to his local paper of the loss of the right. Now that the new EPA mpg ratings have pushed hybrids below 50 MPG, hybrids no longer qualify for this "perk."

I don't understand the logic of exempting hybrids from emissions tests at all. Can someone explain it to me, please? Does the electric engine in the hybrid vehicle give the gas engine in the same vehicle magical powers so it cannot possibly fail an emissions test? Or maybe it's okay if the hybrid's gas engine does pollute more because the electric engine balances everything out? Why stop at emissions test exemptions Virginia? Let hybrid cars break traffic laws and drive on sidewalks! The magical electric engine will stop accidents.

[Source: Potomac News]