California drivers of the compressed natural gas (CNG) - powered Civic GX and zero-emissions FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle will continue to have access to the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) highway lane until January 2015.

The recently passed California Assembly Bill 1500 extends HOV lane access to inherently low emission vehicles, which includes cars that are certified zero emission and CNG vehicles. Before the extension was passed, existing ILEV HOV access stickers were set to expire January 1, 2011. Under the new law an unlimited number of HOV lane access stickers will be issued to eligible ILEV vehicles. The law takes effect January 1, 2011.

The 2010 Civic GX achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 24/36 miles per gasoline-gallon equivalent and is the only vehicle certified by the EPA to meet both Federal Tier 2-Bin 2 and ILEV zero evaporative emission certification standards. The Civic GX is available at 43 dealers in California and is priced at $25,340 (not including destination and handling fees, and state or federal tax credits.)

The zero emissions, hydrogen powered FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle is available for lease-only in Southern California. The FCX Clarity's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile and two times that of a gasoline-powered hybrid vehicle.

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