Posted on 01/13/2006 8:53:07 AM PST by HHKrepublican_2
DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow, aiming to boost the ailing domestic auto industry and encourage conservation, on Friday outlined details of proposed tax breaks for people who buy hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles. ADVERTISEMENT
At a Ford Motor Co. research center in suburban Detroit, Snow discussed tax policy changes that would give people who buy or lease increasingly popular hybrid cars and trucks a tax credit up to $3,400.
No the bigger issue is what States are preparing to do as gas consumption is affected by more and more hybrids.
The Hybrid movement is real. It does and will continue to lower the rate of increase in consumption of gas at the pump.
So who do you think will be the losers as all auto mfgs transition to hybrids? And they are ramping up to do so now. In fact Toyota has declared that all their models will be hybrid.
If the cost of transportation is decreased - the market will increase transportation. IE more miles - more travel.
No issue here - move along folks - nothing to see here!
More taxes.
People will not save a dime at the pump even though they fill their tanks once a month versus four times a month as they do now.
Monthly budgets for individuals to purchase gas will be unchanged.
Those that own hybrids now do indeed realize a savings at the pump. But that window of savings opportunity will close as States ratchet up their gas tax in response to hybridization of autos.
In fact Washington State is proposing a special tax on hybrid owners.
Thanks for the tip.
I drove a Camry before we moved to Vermont, and liked the way it handled. Toyota makes good cars, and so does Honda.
Can you get a Prius with All Wheel Drive? I need that for our dirt roads in the winter. I have a Subaru Outback, which handles beautifully but has some problems with rusty brakes on our salty roads.
I know I don't hear the engine during startup, while driving at low speeds, or waiting at lights because it is under electric power. That makes it huge difference in the way the car feels. It makes it feel like a much more luxurious car.
I took some girlfriends out to dinner over the Christmas Holidays, and we took the Prius. They had never riden in a hybrid, and they were both commenting on how quiet it was at the stops.
If you are in stop and go traffic, it just makes a huge difference. If you are mainly driving on the highway, it wouldn't matter very much.
I don't think you can get a Prius with All-Wheel drive, but I know they have a hybrid Highlander SUV that has just come out. The gas mileage on it is not as good as the Prius (around 34 mpg).
I love Toyota cars, and we just got a Honda mini-van that so far is much better than my old Dodge Caravan.
Additional proof that there was no substantive difference between George W. Bush and Algore.
Making everyone pay more so that some can drive a car that is less economical than the current ones is a hell of a way to get technology to succeed.
But this will only go to help the rich people who can afford to buy new cars. Lets extend this subsidy to used car sales too. Every time you seel a hybrid we'll give you $3800 too. Yah thats the ticket....
What could possibly go wrong ?
;-)
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