Owners of hybrid vehicles max out Pennsylvania rebate program

[jpak]

http://www.wastenews.com/headlines2.html?id=1142015169
 
March 10 -- Pennsylvania´s program to encourage motorists to buy hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions and conserve energy has been so successful that the state expects to run out of rebate money in April.

The state already has awarded more than $1.3 million in rebates, just shy of the $1.5 million allotted for the 2005-06 fiscal year, said Kathleen McGinty, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection secretary. Buyers have six months from the time they buy an alternative-fuel vehicle to apply for the Hybrid Electric and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate.

<not much more>

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. This can't be. heck, GM told us we would never buy them

They can't be wrong, can they? After all what's good for GM is good for Americars.

[Solo_in_MD]

3. Actually GM favors this and the HOV lanes

otherwise the sales of them would plummet.

CU and others have published analysis that the hybrids do not save money even with gas up to $5/gallon. The real advantage is that they get to use the HOV lane with only one occupant. Rebates are just gravy and a payback to those well off enough to afford them.

Sorry truth is that if they kill the HOV privilege, hybrid sales would die with it.

I ride a motorcycles whenever I can. Saves lots of gas (55mpg), I get HOV privileges, and in CA I can lane split.

[skids]

4. Deeply flawed analysis.

... but we've already hashed that to death. A few years, and even those cobbled-up numbers will show a cost benefit (beyond the external impact on environment) for hybrids -- prices for the hybrid drivetrains will plummet by then.

[Solo_in_MD]

5. Perhaps, but that is not the case now

I've seen 3-4 different independent analysis, and they all reached the same conclusion. If you can link to me to alternatives, I will gladly look at them. The real benefit to owners is the HOV lane access as best I can tell. Remove that and sales would plummet in congested urban areas.

For now I will stick with my MC whenever I can and my ratty mini pickup otherwise.

[skids]

6. I never drive in an HOV...

...and I own one. How many other hybrid owners here bought theirs to take advantage of HOV's?

:rofl:

Seriously, all you have to do with those studies is look up the equivalent equipment lists. They take the stripped down models and compare them to the hybrids which cannot be ordered without a lot of the extras.

[NYC]

2. The rebate program was a good idea.

I hope they find more money for it.