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EPA Lists Hybrids Exempt From HOV Tolls

DENVER (CBS4) ― The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency came out with a list Thursday of hybrid cars that can now use High Occupancy Vehicle lanes for free, no matter how many people are inside.

Last year, a Colorado state law was passed that allowed hybrid owners to drive in the HOV lanes for free, so Roman Mica decided to buy a hybrid Toyota Prius. A year later, Mica was still not able to get free use of the HOV lane because the Colorado Department of Transportation said, with all the hybrids on the market it was waiting for the federal government to specifically name the vehicles that could use the HOV lanes without paying.

"It really added insult to injury," Mica said "If you look in the car, it's got one of those transponders, and that means now I'm paying to use HOV lanes."

When the announcement finally came Thursday, Mica was relieved to find the list included his Prius. Dealerships are also celebrating news.

"Sales will increase most likely," Toyota salesperson Matt Lind said.

CDOT says the announcement could have a big impact on all drivers. In 2006, there were 10,000 hybrids registered in Colorado. By allowing all the hybrid cars into the HOV lanes, there is a fear the areas could get overcrowded.

"We just have to ensure as traffic becomes greater and greater in those lanes, we have a way of managing it," Peggy Catlin with CDOT said.

CDOT will watch to see if travel speeds drop below 45 miles per hour. If that happens, they might have to increase the number of passengers inside cars that use the HOV lanes, or limit the number of drivers who pay a toll to bypass the traffic.

Opponents say the hybrids are really no different on the highway than any other vehicle. They say the fuel saving value of hybrids usually kicks in during heavy, stop and go traffic, not when the vehicles are on the highway.

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