Solo EV drivers kicked out of HOV lanes in Virginia

State of play: The federal rule that allowed states to open their HOV lanes to alternative fuel vehicles, regardless of the number of riders, expires at the end of September.

• Since there wasn't any last-minute congressional intervention, solo Virginia EV drivers are now stuck in the slow lanes on weekdays during rush hour.

The intrigue: Virginia EV users had to get special license plates, with an annual $25 fee, to qualify for the HOV lane use exemption that just expired.

The big picture: The end of HOV lane privileges also comes as federal tax credits for buying an EV ($7,500 if new, $4,000 if used) have also expired.

• And while a law passed in 2021 made Virginians eligible for a $2,500 rebate on some EVs until 2027, the program hasn't been funded.

Zoom in: There were over 130,000 battery or plug-in hybrid EVs on the road in Virginia as of April, according to a dashboard from Virginia Clean Cities and Atlas Public Policy.

• Since Virginia's HOV lanes are concentrated in NoVa and Hampton Roads, the change will mostly affect residents who regularly drive there for work.
• Inbound and outbound commutes between RVA and NoVa localities accounted for 2%–5% of any local commute, according to a recent report from UVA's Weldon Cooper Center.