Why doesn't the Prius qualify for a tax credit?
Too much pressure on US automakers?Why doesn't the Toyota Prius qualify for a tax credit? Why not the Honda Insight?
If it were the Ford Prius that was today's king of hybrid cars, would the government have extended tax credits on such vehicles long ago?
Today, automakers use EVs as an excuse not to build hybrids much in the same way they once used fuel cells. Certainly, EVs are more realistic than fuel cells, but they still haven't been proven reliable and, more importantly, cost-effective, etc. And, even worse, a new study questions the entire cost-effectiveness of the Chevy Volt.
Besides, it will take decades to convert America's fleet into any type of more fuel efficient vehicles. Hybrids are a great solution today that could be converted into plug-in hybrids tomorrow - by American companies, such as A123Systems. Shouldn't we be doing everything we can today about energy efficiency today?
Is a Prius plant in America really so irrelevant?
Labels: Chevy Volt electric vehicle concept, hybrid tax credits, Hybrid Vehicles, toyota prius
posted by Dahcredyns at
1:19 PM
8 Comments:
Yep, and as far as I remember 2 trucks are leading the US auto-bestsellers. All in all, trucks, minivans & crossovers are accounting for half of all sold cars.
And many of those are American-made.
Ohhh, actually Silverado moved from the third place, Camry is going to the top!!!!
Ford F-Series: 23,614
Toyota Camry: 20,634
Chevy Silverado: 19,788
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/03/top-10-bestselling-cars-in-february.html
I guess the hybrid version of the Silverado wasn't enough to help lift sales.
It wasn't cheap either, I guess.
One obnoxious guy, claimed that people buy pickups because they need them for work. I wonder, however, if 15% of the population (the current truck share) DOES NEED light pickup trucks. That does not sound valid to me.
I have no idea of the stats. I'm sure there are many whom don't really need a pickup, but they like the functionality it provides.
that's one reason i thought the toyota ABAT hybrid concept was pretty cool - kind of a cross between a pickup and an el camino.
toyota was investigating turning that concept into reality, but that was before the recession really hit, so i'm sure that won't be coming any time soon.
"Why doesn't the Toyota Prius qualify for a tax credit?"
The Prius did get a $2,000 tax credit to get it started. And it worked. The $7,500 credit for the Volt was engineered by Congress to be selective for GM only. The Volt's 16 kwh battery exceeds the Congressional threshold, the plug in Prius's won't.
It's a buy a UAW car program.
I agree Corky, but I don't agree with the policy.
I think its pretty funny that the Carnegie Melon plug-in study questions the whole financial viability of large-battery plug-in hybrids like the Volt versus a plug-in Prius.
Does Congress act on rationality and science or just political favors? Boy, I guess that's a stupid question.
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