Blog Archive
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2011
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May
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- Fisker Karma Makes European Debut at Monaco Grand ...
- Ford Focus RS
- UPS Composite Van Boost MPG by 40%
- Fullycharged John O'Groats to Lands end in a Tesla...
- Suzuki With Hot Hatchback in Geneva with Swift S-C...
- Lorinser Gives Revamped Mercedes-Benz S-Class More...
- Seat Start Production of Audi Q3 in 2012
- Mitsubishi target 25,000 i-MiEV sales in FY 2011
- Transformers 3 "Dark of the Moon"
- BMW, Mercedes-Benz Fight to Outsell Each Other in ...
- Nissan LEAF: Gas Powered Everything [video]
- Renault - Electric Life [video]
- BritNed 1 GW HVDC Interconnector between UK and EU...
- 2011 Ford Escape
- Newey: Red Bull Racing underestimated KERS
- Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2011 overview and drea...
- 2011 Holden VE Series II SS V8 Ute
- Targa Tasmania 2011 - In the Cockpit of a Tesla Ro...
- Bosch to get VW contract for EV batteries
- Tesla Announces Follow-On Offering of Common Stock
- The fastest way to charge your Nissan Leaf - towin...
- Grand Prix Electrique Pile Up at 2011 Grand Prix d...
- 2011 Ford Fiesta S1600
- Mercedes-Benz to Style Helicopter Interiors, Yacht...
- Nissan Leaf Earns Top Safety Rating from NCAP [video]
- UK Police take delivery of first electric patrol car
- Electric Porsche Boxster E breaks cover @ Challeng...
- Lexus LF-Gh Concept
- Concept vehicle art by John Frye
- Azure Dynamics Sells 27 Ford Transit Connect EVs t...
- Venturi Volage wins 3 awards @ the Challenge Bibendum
- Nissan Leaf prices set to fall
- All-New 2012 Kia Rio 5 Hatchback
- VW plans to introduce EVs in Japan within 3 years
- All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza
- Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2011 [video]
- Vexing Hex: Iranian Designer Pens 6-Wheel Mercedes...
- New Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck
- Multijet II Turbo Diesel for Alfa Romeo MiTo
- Deal for first 100 government EVs almost done
- Chevrolet Volt Plant Prepares for Production Boost...
- Nissan could help Red Bull with KERS
- Japanese electric car 'goes 300km' on single charge
- Toyota Extends Production Halt until March 22
- Johnson Controls Moves to Dissolve Battery Joint V...
- Brabus Gives Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series M...
- 2011 NYIAS: Lexus CT 200h
- Majority of consumers would consider buying an EV ...
- Obama administration wants rebate on electric cars
- V2G might make a profit for EV owners
- GM Electric Motors Plant is First for Major U.S. A...
- Toyota Verso-S 2011
- Aston Martin Will Build a Cygnet EV
- Fully Charged Delta E4 test drive, Blackcurrent VW...
- Opel: First battery car from 2013
- All New NISSAN LEAF NISMO RC 2011 SHAKEDOWN [video]
- Toyota’s Prius V Gets Over 8 Times As Many Orders ...
- Germany Doubles Electric Vehicle Research and Deve...
- BMW M5 Concept
- 2011 Ford Fiesta RS WRC
- Brammo wins in TTXGP season opener at Infineon Rac...
- Volkswagen to make electric cars in China with FAW
- Solar Field to Power Chevrolet Volt Assembly Plant
- Test Drive of the Electric Ford Transit Van [video]
- Order Books Open for Nissan Leaf in Spain
- Volvo Going Racing with Rear-Drive Volvo S60
- Porsche 911 GT3 500HP
- Clarkson and Co filming the Nissan Leaf and Peugeo...
- Top Gear up to their usual Electric Car comedy rou...
- How It's Made: Audi R8 e-tron AWD Electric Super C...
- Aurelien Francois concept vehicle
- Air Conditioner
- Electric cars take off in Norway
- Volkswagen to introduce plug-in hybrids by 2013
- Vettel, Webber Praise Red Bull for KERS Fix
- Toyota to make plug-ins standard for Prius from 2014
- Concept vehicle art by Nick Carver
- New York Could See Electric Taxis by 2017
- Nissan Leaf NISMO Electric Race Car ON TRACK [video]
- Toyota consumer’s first choice for hybrid and elec...
- Ford shows off prototype of new electric Focus [vi...
- 'KERS worked well' - Webber
- Jaguar and Williams F1 set for UK-made hybrid car ...
- All-electric garbage trucks to sweep French streets
- Spyker Set to Sell its Cars in Select Saab Showrooms
- A123 signs on as sponsor of TTXGP electric motorcy...
- Hertz Introduces Tesla Roadster Electric Vehicles ...
- Wrc
- Nissan's Leaf sales spike in April
- Peugeot EX1 electric car record run around the Nür...
- Red Bull's KERS problem fixed - Marko
- Increase proposed to $9,500 Electric Car Tax Credit
- BYD e6 all-electric car [video]
- Rent A Racer: Audi Race Experience Program Puts Yo...
- Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Rav 4
- YASA Motors Announce Electric and Hybrid Road and ...
- Amp Electric Vehicles scores $100M deal in Iceland
- Mercedes plans electric S-class
- Chevrolet Volt Drawing New Customers to Dealers
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May
(102)
Obama administration wants rebate on electric cars
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a group of Nissan executives and workers on Tuesday that the Obama administration wants consumers to be able to get a tax rebate at dealerships when they buy electric cars.
The federal government currently offers a $7,500 tax credit on the purchase of electric vehicles, but that can't be taken until buyers file their income taxes.
LaHood said he expects the change to be a part of any tax bill that is passed in the next year and a half.
He made the remarks during a tour of Nissan North America Inc.'s lithium-ion battery plant in Smyrna. When the plant is complete in late 2012 it will be the largest of its type in the nation, able to produce 200,000 batteries a year for the all-electric Nissan Leaf, which will be built next door.
The Leaf carries a manufacturer's suggested retail price in the U.S. of $32,780, much higher than most similar-sized, gas-powered cars. With the tax credit, the price is more like $25,000.
"We'd like for people to get a $7,500 rebate on the day they buy the Leaf," LaHood said, comparing it to the way the popular Cash for Clunkers program worked. Combined with state incentives, the rebate will allow people "to own a Leaf for what most average people can afford," he said.
He said the incentives could be in place "for as long as it takes to really motivate people to do this."
The idea could face opposition from the dealers, however. Bailey Wood, a spokesman with the National Automobile Dealers Association, said tax credits are a great way to incentivize sales, but the administration's proposal, which essentially seeks to transfer the tax credit to the dealer, would complicate the sales process. He said dealers might have to try to determine whether a buyer qualified for the credit, something that could be difficult.
LaHood also said the administration is committed to investing in charging stations so that the infrastructure is in place to make owning an electric vehicle as convenient as possible. The Leaf, the first mass-market all-electric car, can run for about 100 miles before the battery needs to be recharged. On a 220/240-volt outlet, it takes about eight hours to go from zero to fully charged, but a quick charge port allows the battery to charge to 80 percent in about a half hour.
When Bill Krueger, senior vice president for manufacturing, purchasing, supply chain management and total customer satisfaction for Nissan Americas, told LaHood that many of the first buyers of the Leaf are more concerned about the environment than saving money on gas, the secretary seemed surprised and intrigued.
"I believe the model they're using here is something I hadn't even thought about," he said. ..."They base the idea not just on $4.00 a gallon gas. They do want a cleaner environment, to clean the air up."