Hybrid Cars and Tax rebates?

Question

Woudl it help speed the time for avialabilty to get these new electric hybrid cars to people IF the govt, gave tax breaks for the people who buy them new? Think about the ones who can afford it often give to alot of charities for tax write offs, if they were allowed a tax break for 2 of these being purchased per yr. wouldnt that encourage upper class to buy them more often and then trade them in the following year for another tax break? Then this would make it more affordable for the middle class people to buy. By tax break I mean a major deduction possible free sales tax and lisc even. Maybe they could also give insurance comp a corp tax break for discount in insurance on these cars. Alternative fuels and electric is the answer to get away from oil but it has to be reasonable or it will never take hold and millons of lower and middle class people will suffer more.

Answer 1

The US government would take anyone doing this to the World Trade Organisation for unfair competition.

eg the UK charge lower road tax for less polluting vehicles like hybrids; and the UK gov'mt wants car dealers to put big stickers showing red-green how efficient/polluting they are, as we do on fridges etc.

The US is unhappy about this. Korea has already protested to WTO about the fridge ratings.

The WTO does not accept regulation based on environmental impact or sustainability are valid, eg US has imposed punitive "fines" on EU goods because the EU restricts GM products, and favours sustainably grown bananas over those grown in central america by US corporations

see WTO http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_... (but if you can make sense of this gobdly - **** well done; basically it means whatever the US gov/global corps says)

But you can give tax breaks for the Hummer, because that is an essential business tool (obviously)

PS

a) the Prius battery and hybrid drive chain are garunteed 10 years.

b) Oil is a finite resource, the suppliers cannot just produce more. The US has already used all of its easy/cheap to reach reserves, without investing in replcement technologies like the GM EV1 http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com. remaining supplies are of lower quility, there is insufficient refining capacity, and fields are harder to work and in environmentally and politically sensitive areas. AND demand is still growing exponetially.The US has already wasted more than it's fair share, time to grow up and join the rest of the world solving this problem. not sending in the military/halliburton to steal the resources you want.

Answer 2

tes its true.but noy sure about that goverment think on that way

Answer 3

I am usually a 100% buy American person except when it comes to this,because I would like to see our country leave the Middle East in the dust. I'm so tired of them controlling our economy, by not raising production.

They were giving tax breaks for people a few years ago. I didn't know they stopped.

To me whatever it takes, should be the philosophy!

Answer 4

yes it would help but the government is not going to do that..... after its the government we are talking about

Answer 5

It might speed things up if the hybrid batter didn't cost between $3000 and $5000 and only come with a three year warranty. That's two or three years shorter than you'll be paying for the car.  Most of these batteries do not last five years.

Think before purchasing one of these clunkers.

Answer 6

Commercial hybrids were first introduced in the US in 1999 with the 2000 model year Honda Insight.  For tax years 1999-2005, hybrids were eligible for a US Federal income tax deduction of $2000.  (Several US states allowed the carryover of this deduction onto your state income taxes as well.)  However, for tax years 2006-current, hybrids are eligible for up to a $3500 federal income tax CREDIT instead, depending on model (type of hybrid system and a MPG improvement calculation) and if you are subject to AMT.  However, if you do sell your vehicle within 3 years you may be subject to a recapture of credit/deduction.  And these tax breaks are only eligible for new sales.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,i...

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,i...

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,i...

Some individual states also offer state income tax credits or deductions, low or no sales tax, exemption from state vehicle emission inspections, single-occupant HOV lane usage (with proper state stickers/plates), and even free local parking in some areas.

And some US auto insurance companies also offer discounts to hybrid drivers in some states.  Look into  Farmers and Travelers insurance.

Several Canadian provinces also offer tax incentives as well, and I think the Canadian federal government may also have some incentives, too.

In the UK, hybrid owners could receive a Powershift grant for their purchase, but I think that those funds may have expired.  But the cars are still exempt from the London congestion charging (with a relatively cheap annual sticker).

Oh, and at the moment, no commercially available hybrid car is an alternatively-fueled vehicle.  They all use the same gasoline that every other regular car uses, just less of it.

All hybrids have a non-pro-rated warranty of at least 8 years/80,000 miles on the hybrid battery, longer depending on manufacturer, out to 10 years/150,000 miles on AT-PZEV models in CA emission states.

Answer 7

Wouldn't it be easier just to raise the gasoline tax a few dollars per gallon?