For Eddie Sanchez, of Brentwood, one of the benefits of owning a Tesla Model Y is being able to zip in the Long Island Expressway's HOV lane between branches of the financial advising firm where he works, even if he's by himself.

That’s why he was upset to learn that the Clean Pass program is set to end Sep. 30, as the federal government has not renewed permission for New York and 14 other states to grant the exemptions on federal highways for zero-emission vehicles.

"If it's something that's efficient and that's helping, what would be the reason to take it away?" said Sanchez, 37, as he charged up in a Hauppauge parking lot Tuesday.

Anticipating the end of the program, the state Department of Motor Vehicles last month stopped issuing new Clean Passes. Starting in October, high occupa

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