C-Max not Certified by NY State for Clean Pass access to HOV Lane?

[aschofer]

This is a posting for Ford Corporate Management as a call to action. Why did the C-Max in NY State not pass certification as a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle in order for people driving alone to gain access to the HOV lane during rush hour? It does not make sense to me.

 

New York's Clean Pass Program

 

UPDATE (October 24, 2012):

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has recently added the following vehicle models to the eligibility list:

• 2013 Ford C-Max Energi Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
  
• 2012 and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Vehicle
  
• 2013 Smart fortwo Electric Drive (ED)
  
• 2013 Toyota Scion iQ Electric Vehicle (EV)
  

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is currently issuing stickers for these vehicles.

The Ford C-Max Hybrid does not meet the emissions requirement for the program and does not qualify.

[salprint]

Yes...I wondered the same thing

[Maximus]

it must be that only plug in vehicles count, like the C-Max Energi

[CNCGeek]

Makes sense, the rest of those are all EV or fuel cell vehicles.

 

After seeing the list of qualified vehicles I thought it was interesting that the Prius is included (but not the V), so I found some more info which will clarify the reasoning (C-max hybrid is rated as a ULEV II Emissions vehicle):

 

What is a Clean Pass Vehicle? What vehicles are eligible?

Eligible Vehicle Criteria:

• Vehicles which are certified to the California Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standard and achieve a United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) highway fuel economy rating of 45 miles per gallon or more; or

• Pre-model year 2005 hybrid vehicles which are certified to the California Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standard and achieve a USEPA highway fuel economy rating of 45 miles per gallon or more.

 

C-max hybrid specs:

http://www.ford.com/...cations/engine/

Edited November 6, 2012 by CNCGeek