The transportation department plans to issue 2,000 permits to hybrid vehicle owners to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes and express toll highway lanes.

It is accepting applications from interested parties through May 31, and will award about 2,000 permits through a lottery system.

The department is starting with a limited number of permits to make sure there will be little or no effect on travel speeds in HOV lanes as required by federal law.

Supports say the plan will create another incentive for people to purchase more fuel-efficient and less-polluting cars.

Opponents say some hybrid SUVs may be allowed to use the lanes even though some convention cars get better gas mileage. They also worry the HOV lane will become too crowded.