Toyota wants extended tax credits, other automakers fearfully say no

Toyota wants tax credits for hybrid vehicles extended, citing a drop in the sales of its hybrid cars corresponding to the reduction in the credit. Other automakers, aren't as certain. Honda, for example, called hybrids only a bridge to another technology and would prefer tax credits for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. (more)

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles? The same hydrogen vehicles that BMW just claimed are 30 years away from mass-production reality? What happened to Honda, the environmental leader? Yes, Honda developed its hybrids as a bridge to another technology, but their bridge is lost in the fog right now. Toyota, on the other hand, is developing its hybrid cars as an integral part of the path to fuel cell vehicles.

One battery break-through and hybrids could become twice as efficient as today. Moreover, they could be converted into plug-in hybrids for even greater fuel efficiency. In fact, with just one good battery innovation, electric vehicles - never powered by a fuel cell or hydrogen - might be the future.

Yes, extending the tax credit will further empower Toyota, but letting the credit slide will lull many automakers back into the 'maintaining the status quo' mentality that created the problems of foreign oil dependency and global warming in the first place.

Let's drive competition. Let's extend tax credits for hybrid vehicles.