In an ideal world, this is how electric-car tax credits should work

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car at EVgo fast-charging station, Newport Centre, Jersey City, NJThe tax reform bill likely to be voted on by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives retained a number of provisions originally slated to be cut from the tax code. Among them was the federal income-tax credit for purchase of a plug-in electric vehicle. Three carmakers—General Motors, Nissan, and Tesla—have now used more than half...

Electric-car tax credit retained in Congressional tax reform bill: report

U.S. Capitol BuildingWe'll likely never know whether it was the influence of auto lobbyists, pressure from the actual public, or a letter signed by two dozen mayors. But however the sausage was made, it appears that the U.S. income-tax credit for purchase of a plug-in electric vehicle will not be killed after all. Whether it would survive amidst the sweeping changes...

If you plan to buy an electric car, you should do it this month

2017 Nissan Leaf  Common wisdom has it that the last few days of any calendar year are the best time to buy a car. Not only are franchised dealers and their salespeople seeking to close out the month with a bang, but it's the end of a year and their allocation of cars next year can depend on how many they sell this year. In other words: bargains may be there for...

Advocacy group takes electric cars to Capitol Hill to inform lawmakers

Senator Rob Portman drives Chevrolet Bolt EVThe best way to change perceptions about electric cars is to put novices in the driver's seat—quite literally in this sense. The advocacy group Plug In America went to Capitol Hill recently, with a barrage of plug-in electric and pure battery electric vehicles, in an effort to educate lawmakers on their importance. Hundreds of senate members...

Bill making it harder for scientists to sit on EPA Science Board advances

U.S. Capitol BuildingSince the election of Donald Trump, considerable attention has focused on how a candidate who campaigned on promoting fossil fuels would treat the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies charged with regulating those industries. But potential changes to the EPA do not come solely from the Executive Branch. Over the past few...

Bill to cap ethanol in U.S. fuel supply gains momentum

U.S. Capitol BuildingEfforts by the U.S. Congress to cap the amount of ethanol blended with the U.S. fuel supply appear to be gaining momentum. The current Renewable Fuel Standard, passed as part of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, has proven increasingly unpopular among certain legislators. But ardent support from the renewable-fuels industry and the...

Congressmen question EPA over VW funds for electric-car charging

BMW i3 and Volkswagen e-Golf electric cars using Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast chargingEven though a settlement covering almost half a million 2.0-liter 4-cylinder TDI cars that were the main focus of the Volkswagen diesel scandal was approved by a federal judge, questions remain. The settlement includes a provision that requires VW to commit $2 billion in funds to install charging or fueling infrastructure for zero-emission...