MIRA MESA, Calif. -- A new state law will extend access to the carpool lane for hybrid cars and could help the economy.

Drivers of hybrid cars who have had access to the carpool lane for the past six years will be able to drive in the lane for an additional six months. Access was originally was set to expire at the end of the year.

The new law would not only keep the current hybrid vehicle stickers but it would also create a new sticker program for drivers of the next generation of green cars.

In the new sticker program, the first 40,000 advanced technology vehicles will gain access to the high occupancy vehicle lane during commuting hours. The new program, which would include all electric cars, hydrogen fuel cell cars and plug-in hybrids, would start in 2012 and go until 2015.

The Mossy Nissan dealership in Kearny Mesa is advertising the Nissan Leaf as first mass-produced, 100 percent electric, zero-emissions car. It would also qualify for the HOV perk.

"I think people are excited for this. I think they think it's overdue," said Mossy Nissan General Manager Leon Kamins. "I think we all think the ability to make electric cars is there, so why aren't we?"

With up to $12,500 dollars in government rebates, about a thousand people in San Diego County reserved their Leaf which is set to come out in December.

"I'm a fan of electric cars," said David Row, who also said cannot wait to hand over his regular gas-powered car to his wife and get the keys to his own Nissan Leaf. "It would be good for traffic jams on the 15."

The author of the bill is a State Sen. Leland Yee, who represents the Bay Area. Yee said the new incentives will help clean up California's environment and could create more jobs.

"Whenever you can incentivize a particular industry, it's going to mean more production of cars," he said.