Plug-In Incentive
When plug-in hybrids become commercially available (in 2010, if Toyota and General Motors can be believed), there will, in all likelihood, be a tax credit ready and waiting for early adopters. This is great news for the new technology, and a good sign that the government can still make the right moves when it comes to promoting alternative energy vehicles.
There are actually two bills in the House of Representatives that could, if passed by the house and Senate, and signed into law by the President, provide up to $5,000 per vehicle in tax credits. That’s still not enough to cover the incremental costs of a plug-in hybrid, but it’s a start. Obviously, for plug-in hybrids to succeed, more incentives may be needed, as well as a whole lot of energy-conscious consumers who are
willing to pay a premium for a car that may only need to visit the gas station three or four times a year.
What about you? What would you pay, either as a private consumer or as a fleet manager, for a plug-in hybrid?
July 29th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I would be willing to pay a premium for this type of vehicle, whether or not I am able to is a different issue. Incentives go a long way in helping advance the use of alternative vehicles, especially since there will likely be issues with the vehicles in the early models and battery life will be tested.
Might be nice to see incentives to encourage public transit/regional transit use, too.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
A $5000 rebate would almost pay to replace a battery pack. I have spoken with several dealers and all have expressed concerns about battery life and reliability. Until there are significant improvements, lead/acid is the most reliable and cost effective for energy and potential cost but the weight will reduce economy. Someone please find a solution.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I am ready for an all electric car. I will be willing to pay extra just to get out from under the thumb of the oil companies and all the other greedy ones down the line that like to rip off the consumer. We can send a man to the moon, but we can’t make an electric vehicle.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
All of this sounds great, provided you are willing to support increased electrical infrastructure which will have to include nuclear and clean coal as options. Without these we don’t have enough electrical production to meet the need of too many electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
And just so I don’t hear it: I doubt the State of New Mexico thinks their state is a wasteland and would be willing to cover the state in solar cells which would be required to handle Southern California’s proposed use of electric and plug-in hybrids!
August 19th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
We have meaga watts of excess electric off peak. AT night many power companies dump the excess, that’s why they off Time Of Day pricing.
I’m willing and have a plug-in A123 system due this month. It’s $10K I feel is well spent. It will make 6K systems available in a short time. Like cell phones. PC’s and solar panels they keep getting better and lowewr in cost each year. Lithium batteries will follow this trend.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Until we get off the bandwagon of building natural gas power plants, and move to the more economical nuclear power, all we will be doing with these plug ins is transferring the cost from one energy source to the other.
Wind and solar are too expensive as a mass power producer, and require way too much land for what they produce. Sure they are fine for the private user that wants to reduce his power demand at home, but come on.
We haven’t built a nuclear plant in 30 years, but we have built thousands of natural gas ones. In the mean time, the price of natural gas has soared, as has the price of electricity.
If we really want to solve our energy problem, we need to tackle the source, as well as the use. We need to build more nuclear, and we need to drill here and drill NOW!
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Check on the true cost of Nuclear, it’s the highest of any power. It uses lots of water , has not place for the waste it has made for 30 years that will be around for 2 thousand or more .
Renewable energy is the best choice and goes down in cost with use.
Plug-in are very efficient, they can even store energy from off peak for use on peak. try that in your SUV.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
How do plug-ins work in the northern tier of states? We need heaters and defrosters and sometimes 4 wheel drive. If these can be taken care of, they could be great for commuting.