PLUG IN TAX CREDIT ACTION

[Derwin]

This is an email I just received from Persu Mobility. They sent this to all those that have pre-registered for the Persu Hybrid:

Please read this email and act upon this immediately as Congress is meeting today and tomorrow!


Dear Persu Mobility Pre-Registrant,

Last fall Congress approved consumer tax credits of up to $7500 for plug-in cars. Unfortunately the lawmakers left out the most affordable and available solution: 2 and 3 wheeled plug-in vehicles.

This year Persu Mobility, along with Plug In America and a team of entrepreneurial plug-in vehicle companies from coast to coast has worked with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), John Kerry (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Bill Nelson (D-FL) to get critical plug-in vehicle tax credit language into the upcoming stimulus bill. We are very close to success.

But now our efforts are threatened - we hear that the consumer tax credits for 2 and 3 wheeled plug-ins may get removed from the stimulus bill.

We need your help - we will do most of the work. Please take just a moment to click through the link below and send a strong message to your representatives in Congress and the President telling them that you want plug-in electric vehicles to be successful along with the truly green jobs they can create. Show Washington just how serious you are about wanting affordable plug-in vehicles on the road now:

http://www.pluginamerica.org/stimulus-2-3wheel

It is time to ask Congress to advance the next generation of transportation options. Each and every voice they hear will make a difference.

Let us do the work for you - Just click the link below and in less than a minute you can get your message to Congress about this key issue:

http://www.pluginamerica.org/stimulus-2-3wheel Thank you!

The Persu Mobility Team

[Jonathan Blair]

I can't support this. I can barely make ends meet and now this special interest group wants me to support my tax dollars going to give tax breaks on a toy.

[Derwin]

I can't support this. I can barely make ends meet and now this special interest group wants me to support my tax dollars going to give tax breaks on a toy.

Jonathan, Welcome to the club! wel;co;m;e101)) I hope you enjoy yourself here, and make yourself at home.

As to your concern... Actually, this is a TAX-BREAK for people that purchase plug-in and Hybrid vehicles. This has nothing to do with people that buy "toys", but real vehicles that people will use in commuting to and from work. The Persu Hybrid is just ONE vehicle that would fit in that category.

Heck, I'm all for CUTTING TAXES on anything that they can think of. It's the RAISING of taxes that takes money out of our pockets!

Derwin

[Jack Willard]

I got the email and have already contacted my representatives. You betcha! agr:1

[rogwild]

Yep; got mine also. Probably one of the less 'Porkish' provisions in the bill that may help the future, and create a few jobs (unfortunately in Calif., sorry Jack). Too bad that after 7 months of 'SILENCE' (except for a name change), the only information we get from the New Persu Mobility is a request for help, for a vehicle that they have not demonstrated any progress on in the last 1/2 year!
If it was from Ian and VV, I wouldn't hesitate, but I'm going to have to give this some thought tonight. If I support it, it will be for the future of ALL plug-in technology, and NOT because it came from the 'almost mute' PM.

[AZEqualizer]

It really is coming from PlugInAmerica.org, with Persu Mobility, being one of the groups trying to get the word out. And it can benefit a much wider swatch of people than one might consider.

Prior legislation helped to drive plug-in vehicles into the driveways of American consumers. Unfortunately they left out some of the most affordable and available options: 2 and 3 wheeled plug-ins and plug-in hybrid conversions. This type of legislation, if we show the bureaucrats not to forget about this segment of vehicles, will help a lot of little known groups out - not just the big auto companies that have been dragging their heals. A little competition and stimulation in the 2 and 3 wheel vehicle manufacturer arena, may give the big auto companies some reason to take notice. It may help make things more affordable for people to have a smaller vehicle to use (and give people more options), when most of the people out there only have one or two people in their current mode of transportation for their everyday use.

[Derwin]

It really is coming from PlugInAmerica.org, with Persu Mobility, being one of the groups trying to get the word out. And it can benefit a much wider swatch of people than one might consider.


Absolutely. This is NOT a Pursu Mobility thing. It is all about getting help to ALL electric and hybrid vehicles ou there. That's what's so great about it.



Derwin

[Mark Tomlinson]

If you think it through, this is also a "job creation" type of thing. The break is already in place for the Tesla Roadster or the Fisker Karma, but no break if you are looking to get a more affordable Aptera or Persu. Knock $7,500 off the price of a vehicle more people can afford, and you've ramped up demand to where literally thousands of jobs will be created in manufacturing, sales, and support.

And it's not a bail-out or even a loan. It may amount to millions in income taxes not being collected - but that's far better than billions going out for questionable use.

[cobraphx]

We know that something on the order of 50 million dollars (and maybe a lot more) of the Financial bailout went to pay bonuses to the management of those failing financial institutions. That same $50,000,000 spent on the plug-in tax incentive would have helped 10,000 or more Americans afford a plug-in hybrid or EV. Much better spent helping thousands of Americans adopt new much needed vehicle technology, than lining the pockets of a few inept corporate executives.

[Miracleman89]

Message sent! I also called Ann Kirpatrick my congress women! She is a great lady and I know her personally!

[Jack Willard]

If you think it through, this is also a "job creation" type of thing. The break is already in place for the Tesla Roadster or the Fisker Karma, but no break if you are looking to get a more affordable Aptera or Persu. Knock $7,500 off the price of a vehicle more people can afford, and you've ramped up demand to where literally thousands of jobs will be created in manufacturing, sales, and support.

And it's not a bail-out or even a loan. It may amount to millions in income taxes not being collected - but that's far better than billions going out for questionable use.

agr:1 Having a tax credit to apply certainly will influence MY purchase decision! Isn't THAT the whole point?

[Mike kZ]

Sent mine out too!

[Hoosier]

Message sent.

[JoeU]

Here too!

[meckman1]

Sent mine yesterday.

[Mike kZ]

Just recieved this email:

Dear Mike,
Plug In America supporters like you sent over 30,000 messages in the last week, asking your representatives to support plug-in vehicles in the Senate economic stimulus bill. Well, it worked...
We got the number of plug-in tax credits doubled from 250,000 to 500,000!
We pulled off an unprecedented 80-16 vote of support for plug-in vehicles!
It's almost time to celebrate, but not just yet.
As the bill is refined by the House and Senate into a final version, we need your help to make sure that we keep the provisions for which we've fought so hard. Key decisions may be made by the end of the day, so time is of the essence.
This is a key moment in plug-in history, and we need you to make your voice heard. We have a newly crafted message for legislators at our campaign action page which details our requests:

www.pluginamerica.com/stimulus

Please click on the link and send your message. We did it once; we can do it again. Each and every voice they hear will make a difference.

Thank you!
Jay Friedland
Legislative Director
Plug In America

[Jack Willard]

Im in!

[JoeU]

Me too!

[danbucks]

Are these folks for real?
They are forging the email addresses to do the send (a big, big, no-no these days - they should be sent on behalf of us FROM pluginamerica), which means, anyone with something they should have, e.g. a secure smtp server, etc. etc., is bouncing/rejecting the emails immediately.

[Jack Willard]

I only got two back as rejected for some security policy. They rest went through.

[AZEqualizer]

Well, from what I can see of the current stimulus bill they haven't modified the EV part to include 2 and 3 wheel vehicles.

MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term ‘motor vehicle' ... which has at least 4 wheels... with a GVW of less than 14,000 pounds


http://thomas.loc.gov/­home/­h1/Recovery_Bill_Div_B.pdf (http://thomas.loc.gov/­home/­h1/Recovery_Bill_Div_B.pdf)





But we need to continue to remind our representatives that they need to support this type of legislature for the 2 and 3 wheel segmant as well...

[tugboatwilly]

Seriously! Are any of you in the above $400 million club? Then what could possibly give you any Idea they would listen to any of us? sample; $15000 tax credit to home buyers for owner occupied new purchase or $70 Billion for upper income and super rich tax breaks, guess which one they picked?
Only way out of this is shade tree mechanic work around projects 'cause they ain't on our side folks.

[AZEqualizer]

According to Edmund's GreenCarAdvisor: (http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/02/plug-in-hybrid-tax-credit-update-economic-recovery-law-boosts-numbers-eligible.html)

After after an intensive lobbying effort by the advocacy group Plug In America - which sent more than 55,000 letters of support for its plan to the Senate - the measure was amended again...

The final version, signed into law today by President Obama, had this provision. Not as good as we might have liked but better than nothing.

There also are provisions that give qualified aftermarket conversions that turn conventional hybrids such as the Toyota Prius into plug-ins with additional all-electric range a credit of 10 percent of the cost up to $4,000 (or a $40,000 conversion cost), and for credits of up to $2,500 for purchasers of low speed or neighborhood electric vehicles (limited in most states to top speeds of 25 mph), and electric motorcycles including three-wheeled vehicles.

[Mike kZ]

Got another email from Plugin America:


A Shared Victory on Stimulus Bill

Plug In America is celebrating one of its biggest victories, thanks to you, with the stimulus bill that President Obama signed into law Tuesday. Through intense congressional advocacy and more than 56,000 emails from our supporters coast to coast, we helped shape the bill's plug-positive legislation, which could result in one and a half million plug-in vehicles.

Jay Friedland, our legislative director, led the campaign. "This bill, which invests more than $2 billion in plug-in technology, will put vastly more numbers and kinds of plug-in electric vehicles on the road," Jay said in the press release we issued. "It will help create jobs and spur spending by incentivizing consumers to purchase the cleanest-running vehicles made today and those just around the corner."

As those who joined our campaign know, Plug In America urged a significant increase in the number and types of vehicles covered by the bill's plug-in vehicle tax credit. Also thanks to you, we won expansion of the tax credit from 250,000 vehicles industry wide to 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer, and the inclusion of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid conversions.

Eight major auto companies have announced the manufacture-with delivery dates-of highway capable all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Ergo, the historic bill, which has a tax credit of up to $7,500 per vehicle, has the potential to stimulate the sale of up to one-and-a-half million plug-in vehicles. The tax credits will go into effect at the end of 2009 and extend at least through 2014.

"The President has called for one million plug-ins by 2015, and while we'd like to reach that number even sooner, this provision will do wonders in helping us to meet Obama's goal," Jay said in the statement. "It also gives the auto companies tremendous incentive to accelerate their delivery dates."
A PIA-backed amendment by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) extended a 10% plug-in car tax credit to all-electric motorcycles, three-wheeled enclosed electric vehicles, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, and plug-in conversions. As we know, these kinds of vehicles are already for sale and are the most affordable clean vehicles available.

PHOTO OF MARIA CANTWELL
Cantwell's amendment passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support, 80-16, which showed a unified commitment to get plug-ins on the road. In her Senate floor speech, Cantwell said the bill "makes an investment in our future in electric plug-in vehicles by making sure we create the right incentives for investment in this kind of manufacturing." The legislation will "create economic opportunity now," jobs for the future, and get America off foreign oil, she added.

In addition to Cantwell, Plug In America worked closely with a bipartisan group of senators including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and with plug-in hybrid organizations including CalCars.org, and a coalition it created of entrepreneurial plug-in vehicle businesses from coast to coast: A123/Hymotion, Aptera, Brammo, Electric Motorsport, Mission Motorcycles, Myers Motors, Persu Mobility, Plug In Conversions Corp., Vectrix, and Zero Motorcycles.

PHOTO OF 2 - 3 WHEEL VEHICLE
The final bill, which also boosted tax credits for plug-in vehicle infrastructure, modified a plug-in vehicle tax credit passed into law at the end of the previous congressional session. The credit ranges from $2,500 to $7,500 for vehicles equipped with 4- to 16-kilowatt hours of battery energy. The auto companies that have announced delivery dates are GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and BMW.
Here's a sample of the kind of sentiment our supporters sent to their representatives, prompted by our action alerts:
"You are a leader of my country!" said David A. Fink of Manchester, New Hampshire. "I want you to help me change it for the better. I strongly support hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles! They are the quickest and most efficient way to move from petroleum based fuels that threaten our national security to energy sources that we the U.S. control. I want you to support plug-in vehicles by demanding the auto makers retool, and in the short term allow tax credits for those who are willing to buy or convert to plug in electric cars."
Again, we thank each and every one of you. Our reward is the reminder that democracy works, a greater certainty that the road ahead is paved with plug-ins, and the knowledge that we're part of a growing global team of stalwart, active supporters pulling for the same goals.

If you are not a member, there is no better time to join Plug In America. Our next efforts will be to make sure the stimulus bill funding is properly spent and to keep you and the media informed as we move ahead.

R. James Woolsey on Board
Photo of Woolsey
Plug In America is pleased to announce the addition of R. James Woolsey to our Advisory Board. A former director of Central Intelligence and co-founder of the Set America Free Coalition (www.setamericafree.org), Woolsey works tirelessly to move Americans off foreign oil by championing plug-in technology. He drives a plug-in Prius and is a longtime supporter of Plug In America. To learn more about Woolsey, visit http://tinyurl.com/cr3rx7.

Plug In America Board Members in the News

Sherry Boschert, National Green Leader
Photo of Sherry
Sherry Boschert, a Plug In America co-founder and our vice president, is featured this month in the San Francisco Chronicle as one of America's green leaders. Among other achievements, Sherry authored the widely read book, "Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars That Will Recharge America." To read the Chronicle article: http://tinyurl.com/cpd9e3.

Paul Scott, "Cars & Fuels of the Future"
Photo of Paul
Another PIA co-founder and board member, Paul Scott, wrote a piece on the benefits of plug-ins charged with solar power and for a Washington Post special section published Feb. 10. Paul's article shares the section, "Cars & Fuels of the Future," with others by such industry luminaries as Joseph Romm, Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress and Shai Agassi, CEO of Better Place.