<Ul> <Li> Certain states (e.g., California, Florida, New York, and Virginia) allowed singly occupied HEVs to enter the HOV lanes on the highway . Initially, the Federal Highway Administration ruled that this was a violation of federal statute until August 10, 2005, when George W. Bush signed the Transportation Equity Act of 2005 into law . In California, a total of 85,250 owners of the three eligible hybrid models benefited from free access to HOV lanes from 2004 to mid-2011 . This incentive expired on July 1, 2011, and now hybrids are required to comply the minimum passenger requirements to use the HOV lanes . </Li> <Li> Some states, e.g., California, exempted hybrid electric cars from the biennial smog inspection, which costs over $50 (as of 2004). </Li> <Li> Until 2007, the city of San Jose, California issued a free parking tag for hybrid electric cars purchased at San Jose dealerships, after which the tag began being issued for a fee annually . The qualified owners did not have to pay for parking in any city garage or at roadside parking meters . </Li> <Li> Beginning October 1, 2004, the city of Los Angeles, California offers free parking to all HEVs . The experiment is an extension to an existing offer of free parking for all pure electrical vehicles . </Li> <Li> In October 2005, the city of Baltimore, Maryland, started to offer discount on monthly parking in the city parking lots, and is considering free meter parking for HEVs . </Li> <Li> On 3 November 2005, The Boston Globe reported that Boston's city council was considering the same treatment for hybrid electric cars . </Li> <Li> Annual vehicle registration fees in Washington, D.C. are $36, half those paid for conventional vehicles ($72). </Li> </Ul> <Li> Certain states (e.g., California, Florida, New York, and Virginia) allowed singly occupied HEVs to enter the HOV lanes on the highway . Initially, the Federal Highway Administration ruled that this was a violation of federal statute until August 10, 2005, when George W. Bush signed the Transportation Equity Act of 2005 into law . In California, a total of 85,250 owners of the three eligible hybrid models benefited from free access to HOV lanes from 2004 to mid-2011 . This incentive expired on July 1, 2011, and now hybrids are required to comply the minimum passenger requirements to use the HOV lanes . </Li> <Li> Some states, e.g., California, exempted hybrid electric cars from the biennial smog inspection, which costs over $50 (as of 2004). </Li> <Li> Until 2007, the city of San Jose, California issued a free parking tag for hybrid electric cars purchased at San Jose dealerships, after which the tag began being issued for a fee annually . The qualified owners did not have to pay for parking in any city garage or at roadside parking meters . </Li>

When does the gas engine start in a hybrid