A Guide to Hybrid Incentives and Laws

Depending on when you bought a hybrid or other green car, which model you purchased, and how many deductions you are already taking, you might be entitled to a significant tax credit. We’ll continue to track federal, local and corporate hybrid incentives, and share it in these pages. You'll also find the latest government proposals and plans.

Start with these articles:

Top news inIncentives & Laws

California’s Green Car Roadmap to 2050: One hundred percent of car sales will be zero emission vehicles in 2050. That’s the vision of the California Air Resources Board, explained in a meeting in late October to review the state's zero emission vehicle (ZEV) strategy. The agency calculated where the statewide vehicle fleet should be to meet the state’s greenhouse gas reduction targets in 2050—then worked backwards.
Debate Begins on CAFE Credits for EVs: There’s a new federal proposal on the table to give makers of pure electric cars bonus points to help them meet new tougher fuel economy standards. Joseph White of the Wall Street Journal calls it the auto-industry version of a "buy one, get one free" deal. The debate over CAFE and electric cars is already underway—more than a year from the introduction of the first mainstream electric vehicles. Is it a fair industry incentive or a shell game?
With Budget Shortfalls, Gas Tax Discussion Re-emerges: Politicians are usually afraid to utter the words “gas” and “tax” in the same sentence. Yet, tight government budgets for maintaining roads and highways—rather than concerns about the environment or oil use—are forcing the issue back on the table.
Fox News Attacks US Loans to Fisker and Tesla: According to Fox News, the US Department of Energy threw away nearly $1 billion in loans to Fisker Automotive and Tesla Motors—two Calif.-based auto startups trying to produce the next generation of American-made energy-efficient cars. On several of its shows, including America's Newsroom and Your World, Fox News criticized the loans because Fisker and Tesla currently produce expensive cars that are made in Europe.
Legislators Debate Solo Hybrid Access to Carpool Lanes: In the mixed bag of incentives designed to encourage car shoppers to buy greener cars, access to carpool lanes while driving solo has been one more push in the right direction. But California legislators are now debating if they are setting the standards high enough with hybrids that get 45 mpg—the previous mark to qualify before the program reached its limit of HOV stickers in 2007.
Obama Proposes Rules For Carmakers to Meet 35.5 MPG: In May, President Obama announced new tougher fuel economy standards to take effect in 2012. Yesterday, his administration released the proposed 1,227-page set of regulations for implementing the standards, which require cars to average 35.5 mpg by 2016. As usual, the devil is in the details.
China and Japan Intensify Green Car Goals: China will soon overtake America as the world’s biggest car market. The country will need consumer incentives to boost its nascent market for hybrid and electric cars. Japan's hybrid market is booming, largely supported by generous consumer tax breaks for green cars. To further accelerate its hybrid market, Japan's newly elected government is expected to set much tougher goals for reducing auto emissions.
Federal Tax Incentives (United States): Depending on when you bought a hybrid, which model you purchased, and how many deductions you are already taking, you might be entitled to significant tax credit.
Hybrid Incentives and Rebates - Region by Region: We're doing our best to track hybrid incentives and rebates across the country.
Germany Spurs Its Automakers to Produce Electric Cars: Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition parties pledged this week to spend more than $700 million by 2011 on developing electric vehicles, as it tries to put 1 million electric vehicles on German roads by 2020. The preliminary plan, still short on details, is already meeting resistance for not going far enough.