TORONTO, (April 22, 2005) — Ontario’s Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky announced that the province is exempting hybrid vehicles from Drive Clean testing.

The government says that hybrid vehicles — those powered by combinations of internal combustion engines and electric motors — are not compatible with Drive Clean’s emissions testing equipment, as the vehicles are required to to idle, something most hybrids are not designed to do.

Once these vehicles grew in popularity, the ministry began working on an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act to exempt hybrid vehicles from the program. The exemption takes effect May 1, 2005. Owners of hybrid vehicles tested in the past will be contacted by the Drive Clean office and have their test fees refunded.