Featured Who will try to save the EV tax credits?

there's already a thread, but we never mind starting over

 

it was, but you know how things devolve...

 

Maybe we can turn this thread into a never-ending topic about the 12v aux battery.

 

Question: Who will try to save the EV tax credits?

Answer: All car manufacturers that were benefiting from the EV tax credit with the exception of Tesla.

Why? Because their EVs are either too expensive or don't meet the general car buyer's expectations. This leads to greater losses on their investments and stifles their ability to develop better and cheaper BEV technology. And this is amidst a potentially looming Chinese car market take-over.

All we can do is sit on the sidelines and watch what happens, perhaps making a few bets along the way.

 

I think that is an insightful observation.
Also think it is right on target.
People don't need an incentive to purchase a product that they have a need for, saves them money and is competitively priced. Consumers would naturally flock to that product.

 

I guess this is why with current car prices I am considering not buying another vehicle when this one dies. Cars are a terrible investment, and with current prices it will be a large chunk of my paycheck just to own a car, even a used car.

 

from a climate perspective, and some goverment officials who agree with the man made climate change theory, it isn't about what people want or need, it's about a part of a solution.
government has and will offer incentives and determents based on a world view.
every administration sees it a bit differently.
if there weren't so many (perceived) negative effects from combustion engines and fossil fuel burning, there wouldn't be any electric cars.

 

Exactly. No human government can fix all problems. All they can do is take money away from what they see as problems or less important and throw that money at what they think are solutions. And each government and political party and individual has their own view of problems, importance and solutions. Sometimes a few pockets end up being considered as "solutions" but other than that, it is what it is.

 

and we haven't found a better way of doing it

 

Those are good observations.

I think electric cars are problematic - because they use electricity - an expensive commodity (getting more expensive).

Electricity can be made from different sources which may be its saving grace - but - many of the sources are just as destructive as fossil fuels - and - as a matter of fact are fossil fuels.
Wind power, nuclear power and solar all come with different environmental and ecological cost that when looking at long term impacts lessen their appeal.

Believe currently there is no clear path forward on this issue - just an unknown road with multiple directions - and a highly debatable choice on what is the best direction to follow on that road.

Maybe rewards ( Auto Incentives) to follow one direction depend on your current beliefs (feelings) as opposed to a sure destination.

 

right now, electric and gas are about breakeven in this area, and i'm paying 40 cents/kwh

 

I'm not sure all the actual prices on these things, but in my area it was dirt cheap to drive the Nissan Leaf. I think the most I spent on electricity was $100 in a month with many months being less than $80, and that was including my normal electricity usage plus things like sewer and trash that are on the same bill. (Works out to around $30 to $50 per month for "fueling" the EV). Now compare that to the at least $150, if not $200 per month I spend on gasoline in my supposedly 40 mpg Toyota hybrid when driving the same routes and distances.

 

...which serves to point out another element in the discussion - Regional and National perspectives can add other considerations

Someone in California or the Northeast will have a whole different experience on the cost of running an electric car compared to other areas of the country.

Norway's perspective on electric cars with their well-developed distribution grid and plentiful geo thermal electric power will have a much different perspective than say Africa with its immature power grid and limited resources.

In the US, areas with plentiful natural resources to generate cheap electricity may have much different perspectives on electricity dependence compared to states that are consumers of electricity rather than generators of electricity.

Different answers for different circumstances each probably a best fit for the unique circumstances.
Maybe why people/areas have different views on paths forward - and maybe why there isn't right or wrong answers - just different answers.

 

And the same is true for gasoline

 

Everything here is true, except we have one problem. And the problem is we have many problems, but usually limited solutions. So the problem is, at times, only having one solution.

In the end, those in power decide what solutions will be in place. The rest of us just have to go with the flow. The Nissan Leaf was dirt cheap to drive. Most places in the USA, electric will be cheaper than gasoline, mile per mile for fuel only. But that doesn't make EVs any cheaper overall. Nor does it make station wagons cheaper. What do I mean?

For an example, let's say I want a used station wagon. O wait, there aren't any. Ok, how about a few years old, used, econo car that isn't nearly MSRP still. Oh wait, those don't exist either. And as for being able to get a Nissan Leaf on a $9/mo lease and spend $50/mo on electricity here in Colorado, well that will probably be gone too. So what works best is constantly changing due to what those in power decide, not the individual, and especially not what poorer individuals would like to decide.

Basically, in 2026, after the last econo car has been killed, tariffs are in place, and EV incentives have been repealed, about the only option for a frugal used car buyer will be a Ford Escape or a Chevy Trax. That's pretty much it, a bulky bloated crossover with a poor longevity reputation.

I still cannot for the life of me figure out how a person would be able to justify a used Toyota at their current prices. So if a new car is out of the question, and so are used, then what?

 

In NJ, incentives are already going away. When you bought a new EV, you received a $4000 instant incentive. It is now up to $2000. There was no sales tax, now it's down to paying 1/2 the sales tax. July 2025, it goes back to the full sales tax. You also now pay $250 on top of the registration fee and the $250 increases $10 a year, up to $290. Oh, well.

 

Somehow we still have ~296 millions cars registered in the US

Mike

 

how many is that per driver?