California to End Solo EV Carpool Lane Access for Over 500,000 Drivers by October 1

California's long-standing Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) Decal Program, which allowed single-occupancy electric vehicle (EV) drivers to use carpool lanes, is set to expire on October 1, 2025. This change will impact approximately 500,000 EV drivers across the state, as the federal government failed to reauthorize the program that has been in place for over two decades. The move is expected to reshape commuting patterns and potentially lead to an increase in traditional carpooling.

The Clean Air Vehicle Decal Program, initiated in 1999, was designed to incentivize the adoption of electric and low-emission vehicles by granting them access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and, in some cases, reduced tolls. Over 1 million decals have been issued to California drivers since its inception, with hundreds of thousands currently active, making it a significant perk for EV owners. The program allowed drivers of qualifying electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to purchase special stickers for solo HOV lane use.

The program's termination stems from the U.S. Congress's failure to reauthorize the federal legislation that permitted states like California to grant this solo HOV access. Despite efforts by California legislators to extend the state's program through 2027, federal authorization was not secured. Governor Gavin Newsom attributed the program's end to the Trump administration and a Republican-controlled Congress, stating that a "Trump traffic jam is on its way to California."

The expiration means that solo EV drivers will no longer be able to use carpool lanes and will also lose associated toll discounts. The California Department of Motor Vehicles confirmed that no refunds would be issued for currently valid stickers. While many EV owners express disappointment, some observers, like (((Matthew Lewis))) on social media, view the policy change positively, stating it ends "abuse of carpool lanes by wealthy, subsidized, single-occupancy EV owners" and leads to the "desired outcome: More carpooling."

Indeed, the shift has already spurred local initiatives, such as the revival of casual carpool programs in the East Bay, where residents are seeking ride-sharing alternatives to retain HOV lane access. Experts like Gil Tal, director of the Electric Vehicle Research Center at UC Davis, noted that the program's popularity had become its downfall, as "there are just too many electric cars" for the HOV lanes to remain effective with solo drivers. This transition marks a significant moment in California's transportation policy, prioritizing multi-occupancy use of HOV lanes.