CALIFORNIA REAMING: MORE BAD NEWS FOR VOLT

Another week, another batch of bad news for Volt: On top of the recent acknowledgement that the Volt isn't really an electric car but is more of a hybrid - which we've been saying for a while - now it looks like the Volt won't even qualify for the California carpool lanes. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) does not have an EV mode, so they only test cars when the engine is running. Due to that factor, the Volt is classified as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV), which is a notch under the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Jetta TDI and even the Honda Accord Sedan I4. Unfortunately, this means either GM will need to tweak the car to meet the more stringent emissions standards or buyers looking to purchase a Volt to get them in the carpool lanes in California will be out of luck. The car also won't qualify for a $5,000 state tax rebate and preferential parking. Ailis Aaron Wolf Hybrid Owners of America