How much did you actually gain? They now have a tax credit for plug-in. The new tax credits for plug-in vehicles range from between $2,500 to $7,500, with factors such as battery capacity determining how much owners would receive. Cars like the
Chevrolet Volt, due in late 2010, would be eligible for the maximum credit of $7,500. The total cost of the program over the next ten years is estimated at $2.8 billion - a significant sum of money, but a drop in the bucket next to the $700 billion bill it's a part of, or the money received so far by Chrysler and GM.
To meet the tax incentive's standards, a plug-in vehicle must have a battery with a minimum capacity of 4kWh, though an additional $200 of tax credit is added for every kilowatt-hour thereafter, which is how the Volt gets to the maximum $7,500 limit with its 16kWh battery.