Electric car drivers have enjoyed a very special privilege on Arizona roads for years. It was enough to drive a zero-emission vehicle to travel alone in the high-occupancy lane. This advantage not only saved time, but it also became a key argument to boost electric car sales.
However, times have changed and that exception now has an expiration date. Arizona's government has decided that starting September 30, electric car drivers will no longer be able to use that lane alone. Most importantly: if Congress doesn't act, the measure will apply across the United States starting October 1.
End of a benefit that marked an era
For years, the rule was simple: if you drove an electric car, you could use the HOV lane no matter how many people were inside. Now the rule is the same as for any other car. To travel in that lane in Arizona, at least three occupants will be required in the vehicle.
The reason for this change makes sense. High-occupancy lanes were created to reduce traffic jams and encourage carpooling, but with the rise of electric cars, the measure lost its purpose. More and more drivers were accessing the HOV lane alone and the result was the opposite of the desired one: congestion.
Arizona lawmakers have considered that it was time to restore order. What started as an incentive to speed up the adoption of electric cars no longer makes sense in a scenario where these vehicles are common. The goal is clear again: less traffic and more efficiency.
Electric cars are no longer a minority
In the last decade, electric cars and plug-in hybrids have stopped being rare. Sales have skyrocketed and the charging network has grown steadily. In addition, the idea of driving without polluting has taken hold in much of society.
Even so, there are still barriers that slow down mass adoption. The purchase price is still higher than that of combustion cars. Although the infrastructure has improved, there are still not enough fast chargers in many cities.
That context explains why many buyers saw an extra benefit in the HOV lane. In cities like Phoenix, being able to save up to half an hour (30 min) of traffic daily made a difference. The new rule will be a blow for those drivers.
A national movement
Arizona is not an isolated case, cities like San Francisco or New York are strengthening the monitoring of high-occupancy lanes. They install automatic cameras, apply harsher penalties, and seek to reduce accident rates. Let's not forget that in 2023, one third of road deaths were related to speeding issues.
Arizona's decision is part of a broader trend of traffic reorganization. Authorities want to return to the origin of these lanes: carpooling and reducing the number of vehicles. That inevitably means eliminating benefits that no longer fit the current reality.
How to adapt now?
The end of the privilege doesn't mean the end of fast mobility; one of the most obvious solutions is to carpool with coworkers, family members, or neighbors. In fact, several apps already make it easier to organize shared rides. Another option is to plan trips better, although everyone knows how difficult it is to avoid rush hour.
The debate will remain open; some believe that removing the exemption is a step backward for those who support clean energy. Others celebrate the return to the original purpose of HOV lanes. The truth is that, with so many electric cars on the road, the measure was no longer sustainable.