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http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/transportation/study-finds-that-banning-hybrids-- from-hov-lanes-increases-traffic/1069?tag=nl.e660
Transportation researchers at the University of California at Berkeley have come up with some surprising results on HOV lanes and hybrids: allowing hybrids to drive in HOV reduces traffic congestion for everyone.
Until last July hybrid car owners in California could ride in the HOV even if they were driving alone. However, the California Department of Motor Vehicles ended that scheme this past summer sending around 85, 000 cars back to regular freeway lanes.
A new study that examined six months of data from roadway sensors that measured speed and congestion on San Francisco Bay Area carpool lanes, however found that the decision may have been a bad idea. Freeway traffic had since slowed down across the board - including the carpool lane (which were 15 percent slower).
While that seems counter-intuitive, the authors speculate that car pool drivers were likely to slow down if traffic in the adjoining lanes was significantly slower, out of safety concerns.
“As vehicles move out of the carpool lane and into a regular lane, they have to slow down to match the speed of the congested lane,” said Kitae Jang, one of the researchers. “Likewise, as cars from a slow-moving regular lane try to slip into a carpool lane, they can take time to pick up speed, which also slows down the carpool lane vehicles.”
Cassidy also added that drivers were likely to be nervous going 70 mph around slow moving traffic, out of fear that a regular-lane driver may suddenly enter their lane.
The study was done with data from 6 months, so more time may be necessary to see the full effect of the move.
Hybrids are losing market share.
The popularity of hybrids.
Everyone knew hybrids were a "stopgap" until something better comes along. At least everyone who had followed the market and the news.
Don't count the hybrid "dead" yet though......the new Prius line will put some of the zoom back into sales.
1.this guy who has been claiming $10000 for battery replacement...?
toyota original battery cost with labor$3500....after market $1700...
if u buy prius or any hybrid now....cost will down half or more since u have 8 yr or 100k warranty...
2.also this guys said...civic 32 mpg...good luck in town....it's impossible....i had corrolla ,civic in past.....highway miles 32 possible...
with hybrid....i have prius brand new,,,,,with regular rough driving....easy to get 45-48 in 35-40 degree weather....
so please donot listern to this report......there is enough success for hybrid....gas price will go up.....close to $4/gallon....we will see this summer....hybrid will be selling above msrp when gas goes up.,....
3.average people pay 20% more for hybrid car....(not electric)...electric not worth money.....but hybrid one vehicle in house hold....u can easily pay off....20% cost......i used to have 2009 crv.....city mpg 22...2011 prius mpg...48 around......go figure........
thanks for my input
hp
Do the new gas-only cars really compete with hybrids in MPG? Not really but they do put the "clean" diesels to shame.
As for this article, auto writers still parrot just highway mileage and myopia about interior volume. This was certainly the case with the February, Consumer Reports, that awarded small cars their best, off-the-scale rating by ignoring the payload. It is the total package against the buyer's requirements that determines who wins the buyer.
Bob Wilson
Article for the link I posted did not even mention diesels.
Consumers disagree with your statement as they are increasingly choosing diesel and manufacturers are offering more diesel models.
U.S. Clean Diesel Auto Sales Soar To 27 Percent Increase In 2011
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