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As the Bay Area's Leading Authority on Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles, GreenSmith Motors is dedicated to providing our clients with the latest information, resources and vehicle selection.
HYBRID HISTORY
In 1999 Honda Motor Company introduced the Honda Insight, the first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the United States. Toyota Motor Corporation followed suit a year later with the 2001 Toyota Prius. At first, sales were sluggish as consumers questioned the reliability of this new hybrid technology and balked at the high price tag. In 2002 Honda introduced a hybrid version of the popular Civic Sedan and in 2004 Toyota completely redesigned the Prius into a Hatchback.
Despite these developments hybrid sales remained sluggish until 2005 when the California State Legislature passed State Law AB 2628 allowing a limited number of qualifying hybrid vehicles single-rider access to the state's HOV (carpool lanes). The initial 75,000 HOV Access Decal/Stickers were gobbled up and an additional 10,000 were issued in 2006/07. Eligibility for the program is tied to each vehicles VIN and cannot be transferred to another vehicle. The law is scheduled to expire on January 1, 2011, but speculation exists that the program may be extended or modified (however it appears that no additional stickers will be issued anytime soon).
With only 85,000 vehicles eligible for HOV access, prices have risen in accordance with this limited supply. According to a study conducted by Kelley Blue Book vehicles carrying an HOV Decal are worth $4,000 more than a comparable hybrid without HOV access (as reported by NPR): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9626745
Currently, only vehicles running on Compressed Natural Gas are eligible for additional HOV Access Decals. For more information about CNG Vehicles contact us.
If you have a question regarding the California HOV Decal Program or would like to know more about alternative fuel vehicles please contact us.
With HOV Decals commanding such a premium on the retail market, many people are finding the decals being stolen off their cars. If the HOV Decals have been stolen or removed from your vehicle click here (HOV Replacement Instructions) for a detailed explanation of the replacement process and the documents required by the DMV.
CURRENT INVENTORY
For a list of Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicles available, click here:
If you are looking for a New Vehicle or if you don't see what you are looking for in our Current Inventory, click here to submit a Search Request and we will locate a vehicle that matches your criteria.
For a list of additional information, resources and links click here:
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