California EV Owners To Lose Carpool Lane Privilege

Starting in September 2025, California carpool lanes will only be open to actual carpools, barring hybrid, electric, and compressed natural gas vehicles.

Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Michael Cabanatuan notes that extending the program would require action from both the U.S. Congress and the state legislature. “John Goodwin, a commission spokesperson, said it seems unlikely that the current Congress, with its antipathy toward California as well as electric cars, will authorize the extension of a program intended to promote the sales of alternative fuel vehicles.”

Since 1999, ‘clean air’ vehicles have been allowed to use California carpool lanes regardless of the number of passengers. Today, a total of 411,133 vehicles have the permit, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. But with more electric vehicles hitting the road, congestion in carpool lanes, in some cases, rivals that in regular lanes.