Bills have hybrid incentives

02/04/2005

February 4, 2005

On the fifth consecutive day of an air quality alert in the Twin Cities, two legislators announced a clean-air initiative Thursday that would focus on encouraging people to buy hybrid vehicles. Hybrids combine a small combustion engine with an electric motor and battery. They emit up to 90 percent fewer pollutants and get much better gas mileage than conventional cars.

One of the proposed bills would reduce the state sales tax on hybrid vehicles, which typically cost $1,000 to $2,000 more than comparable conventional vehicles. Another bill would provide incentives for businesses or individuals to use hybrids by joining a nonprofit car-sharing service that will be launched in the Twin Cities in May.

The bills will be introduced next week by Rep. Frank Hornstein and Sen. Scott Dibble, Minneapolis DFLers.

Another proposal under discussion would exempt those who own hybrid cars from paying tolls if they drive alone in carpool-bus lanes on Interstate Hwy. 394 between Minneapolis and Wayzata.