In AZ we have two “blue” carpool lane plates, one labeled with the word “hybrid” for Prius etc and the other plate for single “alt fuel” vehicles like Tesla electrics or future hydrogen powered cars registered in AZ. The blue hybrid plates were capped several years ago so the only way you can have one on a new car is if it is moved from another car you own. But while you could move an old Prius blue plate to a new hybrid Honda, you could not move it to a Tesla. Two separate programs. So far the program Tesla’s falls under has not been capped. But caps are based on traffic flow analyses by the State motor vehicle department and do not require the Legislature’s approval. (I believe the caps are mandated by the feds as a precondition when AZ accepts fed funds to help fund carpool lanes.)
I only mention this issue because I would think other states may be equally impacted, especially those states selling a lot of Teslas. I will be interested to see replies to this thread, especially from CA residents. But at least in AZ, it seems to me this issue should be a consideration if you are planning to delay purchasing a Tesla for a year or two. Obviously the fed tax credit is a big deal but unrestricted carpool lane access is a pretty big deal for commuters, too.
I only mention this issue because I would think other states may be equally impacted, especially those states selling a lot of Teslas. I will be interested to see replies to this thread, especially from CA residents. But at least in AZ, it seems to me this issue should be a consideration if you are planning to delay purchasing a Tesla for a year or two. Obviously the fed tax credit is a big deal but unrestricted carpool lane access is a pretty big deal for commuters, too.