Legislative Efforts to Boost Hybrid Car Sales

Legislative efforts to boost hybrid car sales will be aimed at the bottom line, and the almighty dollar. Until such time as governing agencies can chart and track the best way to make a buck on hybrid vehicles, there will not be a huge boost through legislative change. Environmental concerns, eco-friendly modes of transportation and planet earth will be second to capitalistic intent.

In the United States, you can get an income tax break for driving a hybrid vehicle. You can receive a credit of anywhere from $1000 to $1500 just for driving hybrid. While this may seem like a lot, it's really not. You can also get that much out of the government, and more, for working a low-income job, having multiple children and getting on welfare. Let's consider those choice: go hybrid, spend a big amount of cash, save the earth a little bit, or sit on your fat behind, don't work and have babies the government will then help support.

Now, I'm not saying either approach is worth it or has a big payoff, and although there are female baby factories out there it usually isn't an intentional choice on the woman just to make an extra $1000 in tax breaks! So, I don't think the current legislative efforts and the promise of a $1000 tax break is going to be a major factor in purchasing a hybrid either.

Unless the government can maximize how they can turn a profit on hybrid fuels, a.k.a. taxing them, I seriously doubt that hybrid vehicles will get a big push via the legislative body. Call me a cynic, but the American government is a money machine as much as it is a law making and enforcing institution. If the money isn't there, and something adequate exists, change doesn't happen.

To environmental advocates who push for better legislation for hybrid vehicles, more tax breaks and an eco-friendly driving environment I say more power to you! Advocate! Educate! Work toward a positive change! However, the practicality of the mode of transportation simply doesn't support the supply and demand model for the average citizen, or the current legislative body. For the government, and the average citizen, the almighty dollar is the bottom line and hybrid use is simply not an accepted enough or convenient enough mode of transportation to warrant more legislative notice. It's kind of like the electric card great until the storm blows over and the power is still out.