Carpools, vanpools, commute buses, motorcycles and eligible clean air vehicles can drive in Bay Area Express Lanes for free as long as they follow express lane tag rules. For more information, click here. Bay Area Express Lanes Toll Tag Rules for Toll-Exempt Vehicles No FasTrak® tag is needed to travel free in express lanes that are open today. If you have a FasTrak tag in your vehicle, store it in the Mylar bag provided by FasTrak to avoid being charged in express lanes. A FasTrak Flex® tag is required to travel toll-free on the I-580 Express Lanes. Carpool – Carpool occupancy requirements and hours of operation vary by lane as shown in the table. To find carpool partners, click here. Vanpool – Vanpools consist of 7 or more riders, including the driver. For more information on how to start or join a vanpool, click here. Commute Bus – Public and private buses can use the express lane as long as they are either a ‘commute bus’ or meet vehicle occupancy requirements.

For the definition of ‘commute bus’, click here. Motorcycle – Motorcycles meet occupancy requirements on all express lanes. For the definition of a ‘motorcycle’, click here. Clean Air Vehicle – Clean air vehicles must meet California’s emissions standards, be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and have state-issued white or green decals properly mounted on the vehicle. Vehicles with yellow decals are not eligible to travel toll-free in the express lane, unless they meet carpool occupancy requirements. Carpool Hours and Occupancy SR-237 between Milpitas and San Jose 2 or more people (2+) I-680 Southbound from Pleasanton to Milpitas I-580 between Livermore and Dublin 2 or more people (2+)In this day and age of green technology, there is a wide range of selection for those of us who are considering the purchase or lease of a new eco-friendly vehicle. Compared to the last decade, a recent look at the new 2014 vehicle lineup reveals a larger selection of fuel-efficient, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Electric cars have engines that run on electricity and do not require gasoline, while Hybrids use electricity for shorter distances but also have gasoline for long drives and high speeds. air purifier frenchThese eco-friendly cars come with many advantages to the consumers, such as: Fuel costs, energy security, tax benefits, less greenhouse gas emissions, faster commuting times and power efficiency.lg air purifier price Below is a timeline that highlights the evolution of hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles:best air purifier brand singapore More recently, Nissan came out with the Leaf, an all-electric vehicle that gets 126 miles in the City and 101 miles on the freeway with one full charge.  Additionally, Chevrolet also developed the Volt, a hybrid vehicle that has an initial electric range of 38 miles and a range of up to 380 miles on a full charge and a full tank of gas.

While I was considering the potential purchase of a 2014 hybrid, it was surprising to discover that the hybrid car that I intended to buy no longer qualifies for the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) decal program. A few years ago hybrids with yellow decals were permitted to travel in the HOV lane; however, with the progress in hybrid and electric vehicle technology over the past several years, the requirements needed to qualify for the HOV decal program have also evolved. California law permits a single-occupant use of HOV lanes by specific vehicles which use clean alternative fuels. Click here for a list of vehicles which currently qualify for the HOV lane decal program. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Resources Board has a program in which selected vehicles can use HOV lanes, with a single occupant in the vehicle, if the vehicle has a current Clean Air Vehicle decal that is issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Currently, white and green clean air vehicle decals are being distributed by the DMV.

White decals are slated to expire on January 1, 2019. The DMV will issue these decals to an unlimited number of vehicles that qualify. To qualify for one of these decals, the vehicle must be a Federal Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV). In other words, this type of vehicle runs solely on battery, hydrogen fuel cells, or natural gas and is a zero-emission vehicle. Green decals are also slated to expire January 1, 2019.  However, these decals are only available to the first 40,000 applicants that either purchase or lease vehicles that meet the State’s transitional zero emission vehicle (TZEV) requirement. All clean air vehicle decals must also be reauthorized for use by the Federal Highway Administration. If re-authorization is not granted, the Clean Air Vehicle decal program may end sooner than state law currently allows. Yellow carpool decals, expired in 2011 because the California legislature limited the time of this early hybrid vehicle program to promote the development of a newer plug-in hybrid and other zero emissions technologies.

When considering a vehicle to use in HOV lanes, be sure to verify that the vehicle you intend to buy qualifies for the most recent standards in order to be eligible for a clean air vehicle decal. Doing your part to help the environment stay greener is one of the obvious reasons for buying an eco-friendly car. But a switch to an eco-friendly vehicle will give you more miles to the gallon while also reducing your carbon footprint. Contact FirstCarbon Solutions (FCS) to see how we can help you optimize your resource use, improve your operational efficiencies, and maximize your profit in energy and environmental management solutions including providing you with options for company car fleets.Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Log InSubscribed, but don't have a login?Activate your digital access.2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class showcases techThe new-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship sedan introduced last year enters its second model year with two new variants, the premium extended-wheelbase Mercedes-Maybach S600, and the S550e, the brand’s first-ever plug-in hybrid.

The S550e offers an extraordinarily compelling balance of performance and efficiency. The 2016 S-Class is also the first Mercedes model with Speed Limit Assist and Near Field Communication (NFC).The S550e is the first in a new series of Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrid models. The S550e combines a direct-injection 3.0L turbo V6 gasoline engine with an electric motor for impressive 5.2-second zero-to- 60 acceleration performance and effortless merging and passing. The S550e offers the driver a choice of four operating modes:Hybrid: the default operating mode; E-Mode: runs on battery alone, at speeds up to 75 mph; E-Save: keeps the battery fully charged for later usage; and Charge: Uses the gasoline engine to charge the battery to achieve electric range for later usage.Numerous other technologies help to maximize driving efficiency. A haptic accelerator pedal uses increased resistance to alert the driver to the limit for electric driving; pressing the pedal beyond the actuation point starts the gas engine.

The regenerative braking system recaptures energy from the wheels during braking and deceleration. Even the driver’s smartphone can play a role in the S550e. The My Mercedes Electric vehicle homepage can indicate the battery’s state of charge, activate climate control remotely and display the vehicle’s range. For drivers in California, the S550e is eligible for the Green Clean Air decal allowing single occupant use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.The Maybach brand, which Mercedes-Benz used for a separate ultimate luxury model from 2002-2012, has returned for 2016 as Mercedes-Maybach, an ultra-luxury companion to Mercedes-AMG. With its size, room, power and opportunities for personalization, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 evokes the grandeur of the coach built luxury automobiles of the 1920s and 1930s.The Mercedes-Maybach S600 is based on the S-Class but rides on an extended wheelbase. Magic Body Control, which uses a forward stereo camera to “read” the road surface and adjust suspension for upcoming bumps, is standard on this grandest of S-Class models, as is the full suite of Intelligent Drive technologies.

The 7.9-inch increase in wheelbase over the S600 goes to rear-seat passengers, who can recline in standard executive seats and enjoy a movie on the dual-screen rear seat entertainment system. Passengers can also sip champagne -- cooled in the available rear console refrigerator -- from standard Robbe & Berking silver-plated flutes. Analogies to custom-built private jet cabins seem appropriate, especially in the quality of finishes, including hand-stitched Nappa leather, fine woods and discrete chrome accents. Available foldout tables provide another aircraft-themed touch, and are suitable for a meal on the go or for conducting business.The expressive S-Class interior fuses renowned Mercedes attention to function with a heightened sense of craftsmanship. Ride comfort, spaciousness and ease of use meet the highest standards of discerning customers. The coordinated use of materials and colors yields an interior seemingly cast from a single mold. There is generous use of wood trim – available in five distinct types -- especially in the dashboard and center console.

Metallized switch surfaces are available in three different pearl-effect paint finishes.The new-generation S-Class was the first vehicle in the world whose interior and exterior do without a single light bulb. Nearly 500 LEDs illuminate the road, the vehicle, the interior and the trunk.The S-Class line offers a choice of four different rear seat types. Unlike the conventional trailing backrest design, the S-Class reclining rear backrest is adjusted separately so that the legroom and seat cushion remain unchanged. The cushion can be separately adjusted for angle and horizontal position.Mercedes-Benz, which pioneered automotive emergency calling, has upgraded its mbrace Connected Car Services for 2016, making the new mbrace2 Connect package standard for all models, along with five years of complimentary service. The package includes Mobile App, Web Services, Roadside Connection, MB Apps (non-streaming), Vehicle Homepage (EVs), Diagnostics Data and Remote Update for five years. The S-Class is one of several 2016 Mercedes models to include a Remote Start function as part of mbrace Connect;

the function is accessed through the mbrace Mobile App. Voices will sound clearer thanks to new HD Voice for compatible mobile devices. And, on cars equipped with COMAND, SiriusXM Traffic & Weather will be included as standard for five years (previously three years).The Mercedes S-Class has for decades been not only a benchmark for the luxury category, but also a touchstone for the auto industry as a whole. Many safety technologies and luxury features debuted on S-Class models and were then adopted in other Mercedes models. A comprehensive range of systems makes the new-generation S-Class the safest and most comfortable ever, codified into what Mercedes-Benz calls Intelligent Drive What.Dimensions & specificationsS550e Plug-in Hybrid sedanWheelbase: 124.6; height: 58.7Mercedes-Maybach S600 sedanWheelbase: 132.5; height: 59.0All vehicle measurements are in inches.Engine: S550e – 3.0L biturbo V6 gasoline engine and hybrid electric motor – 436 hp at 5250-5500 (combined); Mercedes-Maybach S600 – 6.0L biturbo V12 gasoline engine – 523 hp at 4900-5300 rpm and 612 lbs-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm.