Hey Ohioans! If you bought that hybrid SUV with the sole purpose of being able to vroom down the HOV lane with hulking impunity, it's time to break out the Kleenex because state Rep. Todd Kiser is about to seriously hurt your feelings. Kiser, a Republican, has sponsored legislation that will compel Ohio comply with a national law the forbids hybrid SUVs from qualifying for use in the HOV lane. Kind of...
The national law requires the HOV-allowed hybrids to have improved mileage by 50 percent in the city or 25 percent overall to qualify for the commuter-friendly HOV lanes. The Chevrolet Tahoe is the model example for this situation, because it only improves mileage by 40 percent. Many other hybrid SUVs fail to meet this requirement, as well.
Don't go listing your Tahoe on Craigslist just yet. If you already received a Buckeye State HOV-sticker, then you're fine and nobody will take it away from you. But be forewarned that your big, beautiful and actually pretty fuel-efficient ride is just as scummy as the H3 Hummer, at least in the eyes of Ohio politicos hot to harvest to Green cred. [Treehugger]