Gas 2.0

The Chevy Volt is in many ways GM’s flagship into the future. Many people are critical of the car, saying it doesn’t go far enough on electric power. Others are critical of its cost, which—between media speculation and hints from GM execs—has ranged from below $30,000 to more than $40,000 before tax breaks. In the past, even GM has seemed rather resigned to lose money when the Volt first comes out, rather than expect to turn a profit.

But in a recent interview with GM-Volt.com, GM CEO Ed Whitacre revealed that GM will sell the Volt in the low $30,000 range, and they will make money off of it. Imagine that… GM making money!

Read the rest of this entry »

When I visited my former college roommate in northern England last summer, one thing that stood out in my mind was the price of gas. My roommate did the math for me (since they sell it by liter rather than by the gallon) and it was about $10 per gallon. Can you imagine spending $150 to fill your tank?

Most of these high prices come from gas taxes, and the idea has been bounced around the US too. It isn’t a very popular idea here, but GM’s “Maximum” Bob Lutz thinks a higher gas tax would help. And this from the guy who declared global warming a “crock of shit”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Traffic sucks. It is a waste of time and of fuel. But even though we have congestion problems of our own in America, it is nothing like the Netherlands, where an estimated 70 million hours a year are wasted by the populace stuck in traffic. The problem is so bad that in 2012 a new law goes in effect in the Netherlands that will tax drivers based on how many kilometers they drive. As Europe’s most densely populated and congested country, Dutch politicians hope a hefty tax levied against most drivers will encourage people to use public transportation and lessen their legendary congestion problems.

Here is the caveat that caught my eye though. Dutch officials estimate that 6 out of 10 motorists will end up paying less, because the new tax will replace registration and the 25% (!!!!!!!!!) sales tax on new cars. So why would people drive less, if it costs less?

Read the rest of this entry »

Not everyone wants to save the planet. This is a sad, but true fact. Yet everyone who lives and works within a capitalist economy loves saving money. So it’s good for the planet that, in many cases, saving money and green initiatives go hand in hand by providing an increased economic benefit while lessening environmental impact. Many of these benefits come directly from the government, such as tax exemption status or tax credits for using alternative fuels in vehicles.

And as the German biofuel industry is showing us, taking away those economic benefits can lead to the utter collapse of what looked like a maturing faucet of biofuel.
Read the rest of this entry »

Zero Motorcycles has just announced that they are the first electric motorcycle company to meet all US and Canadian safety standards as well as pass EPA certification allowing their bikes to qualify for major federal tax credits of 10% of the purchase price as well as a state sales tax credit.

Read the rest of this entry »

Faced with dwindling cash reserves, several states are considering raising their Gas Tax. Those with efficient vehicles will come out ahead. Low income families, the trucking industry and the alternative fuel industry will finish last.

Now I am all for taxes – there are many essential services that the government performs and they need money to do this. Most often, gas tax goes directly into maintaining and repairing roads and highways – a costly endeavor – but absolutely essential to keep our country alive.

What I’m specifically concerned about is how this will affect three groups: those with low incomes, the trucking industry, and the alternative fuel industry. Read the rest of this entry »

The Irish government has announced radical plans to introduce more than 250,000 electric cars onto the nation’s roads by 2020, a staggering ten percent of the total vehicles in the country.

If the scheme is successful, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the state energy agency, estimates an annual cut in CO2 emissions of around 350,000 tonnes. Transport currently accounts for more than a third of Ireland’s carbon emissions, higher than any other sector.

Read the rest of this entry »