Higher Rebate for EV/PHV Proposed in 2012 Budget

magically the Volt wil be best off, when something like this would happen.
qoute : (magically Volt has it) ;-)

 

What is your plan then? Saddling future generations with debt is a straw man argument and FUD. We spend tens of billions in wars in the Middle East and only $142 million on the EV tax credit last year, so our current course is saddling future generations with debt, not policies that we take to change course. Certainly, the tax credit for Tesla Roadster and Fiskar Karma can be eliminated since the wealthy don't need it, but for the Prius Plug-in, Volt, and Leaf, the EV tax credit brings the luxury car price down closer to the average car price in the US of ~$25K. Apparently, you don't get it.

 

Yes, please.

As much as I'd like to see more EVs on the road, I don't think direct rebates is the way to do it. People see it as an unfair subsidy, and conclude that the technology can't stand on its own. In reality, it's the gas cars that get the biggest subsidies, but that's not the public perception.

 

The subsidies should be given to battery and EV manufacturers. This way it is transparent to the car buyers like it is with gasoline.

But wait, isn't the battery manufacturing been already subsidized? The loan to build the manufacturing plants for Nissan and LG Chem. The R&D to research battery technology from Argonne Lab was cheaply licensed to LG Chem (for the Volt).

 

Compared to the petroleum industry? No.

A level playing field would make a world of difference. We're ignoring the elephant while screaming about the mouse.

 

Let's quantify how big the elephant is first. Got any number?

 

This won't make it in any bill, not with the political rancor we have now. Nice try by the President but I fully expect the current tax credit to end before I get it which is the #1 reason I bought a PiP instead of a Volt. I'll miss $7500 more than $2500.

Oh by the way I received a tax deduction (not a credit) for my current Prius courtesy of President Bush so this does have precedence.

 

For the working poor, this is still beyond their reach. "Rich" is a relative term. I'd have bought my Tesla even without the tax credit, but I'd also have bought my Prius without the tax deduction.

It's easy to justify special privileges (tax breaks, HOV lane access, etc) for oneself. Harder to understand why anyone should think you don't deserve a bit of a handout.

All the cars getting tax breaks are aimed at the wealthy or upper middle class, while the working poor pay tax and get none of the breaks. I'll bet the average Joe stuck on the freeway, watching the PiPs go by in the HOV lane is going to cuss out the rich bastards who not only can afford such a car, but get it subsidized: a double insult to the guy stuck in traffic who cannot afford the car even with the subsidies. And even the tax credit is not refundable, so you have to be rich enough to have a $7,500 tax bill before you can get the full amount.

Use the money to develop sustainable technology and infrastructure, rather than give-aways to individuals.

 

I do believe this is relevant to the topic: Militarily, we will never be out of the middle east simply because we reduce our oil dependence. Why? Israel.

Now, :focus: of subsidies, rebates, credits.

 

+1


iPad ?

 

I had my comment removed from this thread at the very beginning because it was 'political'. How is it that almost all the other posts since are NOT considered political?!

 

I don't think those below the poverty line should be taxed at all and I think the wealthy should be taxed more. When I am discussing the wealthy/rich, I'm discussing them in the context of all Americans. If you wish to interpret that as a relative term, then you are are talking about something else or putting words in my mouth. I don't see a problem with an income limit on the EV tax credit or more appropriately, phasing them out based on income.

I would have no problem purchasing a Prius Plug-in without tax credits. In fact, I think it levels the playing field between the Prius Plug-in and the Volt. The HOV lane access is a nice perk, but I'm still happy with my Prius after it has been phased out.

The tax credits aren't aimed at anyone, which is part of the problem. For certain the Leaf, and less so for the Prius Plug-in, and even less so for the Volt, they bring the price of these cars to $27,700, $29,500, and $31,645. That makes the Leaf very close to the average car purchase price of $25,000 and pretty squarely in the middle class. Certainly, the Prius Plug-in and Volt are a bit above that, but I'm certain that once Toyota fulfills initial demand they will create lower packages and bring the Prius Plug-in base down to ~$25,000 after the tax credit. I don't see how the Volt will be able to achieve that and Tesla will definitely not achieve that.

I agree with funding sustainable technology development, but part of the infrastructure is EV charging stations. Without the EV tax credit, only the upper middle class and beyond can afford EV cars and benefit from the EV charging stations.

 

No, I don't understand it at all. You are the one with a utopian fantasy, it's called, "We can keep drilling oil out of the ground forever."

Where are they getting the new oil today? The North Slope of Alaska. Encased in shale. One mile below sea level. Why? because all of the other sources are becoming exhausted.