In an effort to bring back tax breaks for those who convert their hybrid cars into plug in hybrid cars, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., introduced a "Plug-in Hybrid Opportunity Act of 2007." The tax break would give converters a 35% tax credit.
Senators had tried to push a different package through last month, but it was eventually pulled over concerns on how to pay for it. Incentives for building plug-in vehicles and a $7,500 tax credit to converters would have been payed by taxing the oil companies.
Automakers have pushed back citing increased safety concerns. The conversion invalidates the manufacturer's warranty, increases the risk of car fires, often forces the removal of a spare tire to make room for the extra batteries, and may even increase greenhouse gas emissions.
A hearing will be held by Markey, demonstrating the conversion with A123's president and CEO David Vieau. The mayor Austin Texas will also be present. As a major force in the Plug in Partners Campaign, the mayor is a logical selection for inclusion.
Rob Lowe, since he has "driven a plug-in hybrid and is passionate about the issue," is also being invited. Not surprisingly, the automakers are a little bit skeptical about the invite to Lowe.
Source: The Detroit News
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Plug-ins, Taxes, and Rob Lowe
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Plugs will happen sooner or later and automakers know it. Let’s make it sooner! The automakers are fighting tooth and nail against an economic trend that they will never win. They even make up facts for the press that aren’t supported by today’s technology. By putting a plug on your Prius you can get 150 mpg. You can simply charge the batteries up at home using your own domestically made electricity. More Americans now than ever are driving electric cars. The Toyota Prius is an electric drive-train car powered by an electric motor with batteries that are charged by a gasoline motor. If you can plug a hybrid car into an electrical outlet, you don’t need that gasoline motor to run as much. Then the next step would be to have enough batteries to not need the gas generator at all. And the next step after that would be to charge your electric car with your solar array at home. None of this is “future” technology. It’s all do-able now. It’s all happening now. Although it would greatly be in the publics’ interest to be able to buy these type of cars, the automakers don’t think it is in their corporate interest to make them for us. They need a big push from the public and our government to help us Americans stop using so much oil. That’s the only way it’s worked in the past. Seatbelts anybody?
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