2012 model year & California HOV lane stickers

[stephent]

So USA Today reports:

In addition, Chevy will manufacture a special HOV version of Volt for California:

The California Volt will be configured to qualify its owner for one of the state's coveted the high-occupancy-vehicle express-lane stickers ... [will get AT PZEV designation]

This is consistent with what CorvetteGuy posted some time ago, info from a dealer training webcast. Can't find any official GM press release on this though.

So does this mean that all the California 2012 Volts will qualify for the sticker? My order on the chevrolet connects site says "YF5 Emissions, California requirements", hopefully this means I am good to go? I'd hate to have to cancel and get back in line for some later production run that meets requirements.

Also, will this now qualify for the CARB rebate? (Running out of funds, and looks like getting reduced from $3k to $1.5k, but I'll take any money I can get )

[gwmort]

That would be pretty big news. I'm sure they would be shouting it from the mountain tops if they qualified now. One way to check I suppose is to look at the warranty, if its not 15 years or whatever the AT-PZEV standard is you'll know.

[scottf200]

2012 Volt order guide for the Volt http://eogld.ecomm.gm.com

Sorry forgot who this was originally from (perhaps WOP)

FE9 Emissions, Federal requirements

YF5 Emissions, California state requirements

NE1 Emissions, Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington state requirements

NB8 Emissions override, California (allows a dealer in states that require California emissions -
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island or Washington - to order Federal emissions for a vehicle that will be
registered in a state that has Federal emission requirements). Do not use for vehicles that will be
registered in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island or Washington.
1 - Requires (FE9) Federal emissions requirements. Not available in Maine or Vermont.

NB9 Emissions override, state-specific (for dealers ordering vehicles in (YF5) or (NE1) emission states
- Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington)
1 - Allows a California dealer (YF5 emissions) to order (NE1) emissions with (NB9) emissions override
code for registration in (NE1) states; or, an Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington dealer (NE1
emissions) to order (YF5) emissions with (NB9) emissions override code for registration in California.

NC7 Emissions override, Federal (for vehicles ordered by dealers in Federal emission states with (YF5)
or (NE1) emissions - Not required for vehicles being shipped to Arizona, California, Connecticut,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Vermont or Washington)
1 - Requires (YF5) California state emissions requirements or (NE1) Arizona, Connecticut, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont or
Washington state emissions requirements.

[Jedi2155]

That sounds like it might be getting the AT-PZEV model...I want to put my money down right now if that really is the case as I'm really wanting the benefits that come with that emissions package. It is the only thing stopping me from ordering the Volt right now.

[DonC]

The head of the CA rebate program told me the Volt would qualify for a $1500 rebate in February of 2012. I think that requires an AT-PZEV designation. That may give us a time frame. The backstory behind this info is that he's actually a neighbor. I didn't know him, however, and only met him when he followed my wife home to ask her how she liked her car.

Seemed like a very nice guy.

[sgtpokey]

That's interesting, because the current CARB fact sheet designates a rebate "up to" $3000 for AT-PZEV vehicles, I wonder if your neighbor has miscategorized the Volt or if the rebates will be lessened in the future...

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog...incentives.pdf

[DonC]

That's interesting, because the current CARB fact sheet designates a rebate "up to" $3000 for AT-PZEV vehicles, I wonder if your neighbor has miscategorized the Volt or if the rebates will be lessened in the future...

When the funding for 2010-2011 runs out, which will happen in a week or so, I believe the rebates do get cut in half. http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=217

[sgtpokey]

When the funding for 2010-2011 runs out, which will happen in a week or so, I believe the rebates do get cut in half. http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=217

Ah that makes sense and sounds reasonable, taking into account CA finances. so best case for CA buyers would be $9000 total rebates.
Since the extra $1500 CA rebate would help offset the relative price increase of the MY12 Volt, but the real benefit of 2012 vs 2011 would be (hopefully) eligibility to use the diamond lane for the MY12 cars.

That's worth it for me since I have a ~77 mile commute where diamond lane access would help me greatly.

The car comparisons for me would be a loaded Ford Focus (non hybrid), BMW 3-series, or 2012 Chevy Volt. Only the volt gives me the added value of Time.

[Iria]

Well, I did some calling around. One Chevy salesperson (interested only in a sale) told me the 2011s could make the HOV lane. Obviously an idiot. Another one was one the ball, but he had NO IDEA which 2012 Volts would make the HOV lane. He confirmed they would but wasn't sure they would be mid-year or what.

[scottf200]

From SGC thread.

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...opel-ampera-/1

Interesting sentence at the end because we know the tank is already steel and pressurized.

In addition, Chevy will manufacture a special HOV version of Volt for California:

The California Volt will be configured to qualify its owner for one of the state's coveted the high-occupancy-vehicle express-lane stickers letting you drive there whenever you want -- even if you are flying solo in the car (an SOV?).

The state's HOV rules get stricter Jan. 1 and they will boot Toyota Priuses and other 'conventional' gas-electric hybrids out of the HOV lanes in favor of pure electrics and so-called AT PZEV (advanced-technology partial zero-emission) vehicles, such as as the California-ized Volt.

Getting the AT PZEV designation for Volt mainly involves cutting the evaporative emissions -- fumes that leak from the gasoline tank that Volt needs for its gas engine.