The state is extending incentives to help drivers buy electric vehicles, as manufacturers try to keep up with growing demand.

The deadline to take advantage of state rebates on E-car and charging station purchases had been September of this year. but buyers are still [...]]]> by Gina Mangieri for KHON2, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 26, 2011

The state is extending incentives to help drivers buy electric vehicles, as manufacturers try to keep up with growing demand.

The deadline to take advantage of state rebates on E-car and charging station purchases had been September of this year. but buyers are still getting cars that qualify, and there’s about a million dollars left over.

The new deadline is January 31st of next year.

Electric vehicles can be seen more and more these days on Hawaii roads and in dealership lots… but they don’t tend to stay there for long.

“The demand is off the chart. The 2011 model year is completely sold out, so people are already making reservations through us for their 2012 model year leaf,” says Bill Mickelsen, King Windward Nissan.

Strong sales and production schedules delayed somewhat by the Japan tsunami mean existing customers may need more time to take advantage of state and federal rebates they relied on when making their purchase decision.

The state is giving four months longer by stretching the deadline for a 4,500 dollar car and 500 dollar charging station rebate from september to January 31st instead.

It was the refund catching up with the production schedule, and now that the cars are getting on the roadway and here,” says Dave Rolf, Hawaii Auto Dealers Association.

And there appears to be some money left over — just over a million dollars in the state electric car fund, after the state already approved 128 rebates for 68 cars and 60 chargers.

It came from federal ARRA funds, stimulus funds, to it was allotted at a certain amount. if the state wants to keep jump-starting the transition to these new type of vehicles, yes, I think rebates help do that,” says Rolf.

Between full electric and hybrid electric, lots of choices will soon be seen on Hawaii’s highways
Mitsubishi IMEV folks and Volt, Prius people brining their plug-in Prius, we’ve just seen the wheego here, and lots of other things coming. Chrysler is even going to do it as a test market for their truck,” says Rolf.

“It’s catching on, I think everybody knows gas prices ain’t going to go down much in the future, if anything they’re going to go up, and with that said, coming home, plugging in your car, just like your cell phone, you wake up in the morning, your car’s ready to go, 100 miles,” says Mickelson.

Incentives can reach as much as 13,500 when a 7,500 dollar federal tax credit is factored in.

Hawaii residents can save up to $13,500 by applying for rebates on new electric or hybrid electric/gasoline cars and chargers, and now the state has extended the application deadline to January 31, 2012.

From early January to mid-July, the State’s Energy Office is reporting that 128 [...]]]> by Sonia Isotov for MauiNow.com, July 25, 2011

Hawaii residents can save up to $13,500 by applying for rebates on new electric or hybrid electric/gasoline cars and chargers, and now the state has extended the application deadline to January 31, 2012.

From early January to mid-July, the State’s Energy Office is reporting that 128 rebates have been approved for 68 electric vehicles and 60 chargers, with $1,068,988 remaining in funding.

The state anticipates an increase in consumer demand for new electric vehicles for the last quarter of this year and extended its original deadline for tax rebates from September 2011 for another four months.

“We want to empower more Hawaii residents with the opportunity to contribute to Hawaii’s goal of becoming more energy efficient and increase our energy security,” said Estrella Seese, acting energy program administrator for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s Energy Office. “Our top economic priority as a state is energy independence.  The extension of the rebates for electric vehicles and chargers is good news for consumers who wish to purchase them.”

Hawai‘i residents can apply for state rebates of up to $4,500 on purchases of electric vehicles and up to $500 for electric vehicle chargers through the Hawai’i Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Program.  In addition to the State EV rebates, federal tax incentives of up to $7,500 are also available for highway-capable vehicles (the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle credit, which applies to at least 200,000 units per auto manufacturer before it phases out) and up to $1,000 for individual buyers and $30,000 for businesses installing EV charger stations. This allows for the potential of up to $13,500 in rebates and tax credits for an individual.

Hawaii is among the states designated for early release of the first EVs produced by manufacturers such as the Nissan Leaf, Wheego Life, GM Volt, and Mitsubishi i (MiEV). Many manufacturers are continuing to choose Hawaii as an ideal location, for many reasons including;

• Consumers’ high level of enthusiasm to adopt electric transportation. Hawai‘i has the largest number of reservations per capita in the country for the Nissan Leaf.
• Favorable electricity time-of-use EV charging rates from electric utility companies.
• Moderate climate, limited driving distances, and strong tourism industry are ideal for EV utilization.
• DBEDT’s Hawai’i Electric Vehicle EV Ready Program has provided $2.6 million in grants for the systematic installation of electric vehicle chargers across the state; public education and outreach including an EV Ready Guidebook; introduction of EVs to rental car and County fleets, car-sharing services within the hospitality industry; and an online permitting system for charger installations at single-family residences on Oahu. 

The rebates are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Rebate forms are available on DBEDT’s Energy office website at http://electricvehicle.hawaii.gov.

Wheego Electric Cars is a small company with a big, green vision. Wheego hopes to be the first car company in the U.S. to offer an affordable, all-electric car across the country. President Obama has committed to buying the first 100 cars off the assembly line from any [...]]]> published on LiveThriveAtlanta, August 8, 2010

Wheego Electric Cars is a small company with a big, green vision. Wheego hopes to be the first car company in the U.S. to offer an affordable, all-electric car across the country. President Obama has committed to buying the first 100 cars off the assembly line from any company who can accomplish that goal, and Wheego is determined to bring that prize home to Georgia.  Wheego is headquartered in Atlanta, just west of the Georgia Tech campus. CEO Mike McQuary was previously the president of Georgia-born Internet company MindSpring Enterprises.

Wheego’s home state is a great place to introduce Electric Vehicles. Georgia has some of the most progressive tax credits in the country for EV drivers: in addition to the $7,500 Federal tax credit, Georgia residents are entitled to up to $5,000 in State Tax Credits for a full-speed electric vehicle, and can drive alone in the HOV lane in their all-electric car. The problem is, up until this summer the only all-electric car widely available in the U.S. that qualified (fully crash tested and highway-ready) was the Tesla, at a hefty $100,000+ price tag. I haven’t seen one of those in the HOV lane of I-75 yet! That all changes this summer, as Wheego rolls out its highway-ready all-electric car in September, followed by the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt later this year. So while the tax credits have been available for years in Georgia, this will be the first time anyone has actually used the deduction. Why is this important? Well, a “theoretical” tax credit doesn’t actually take any money out of the state coffers. Oklahoma offered a whopping 50% State Tax Credit on electric vehicles in 2009, and were caught off guard by the number of drivers who took advantage of the credit – in Oklahoma, some electric golf carts qualified. The state budget took a huge hit, and the tax credit was discontinued, just as the cars it was meant to encourage are ready to hit the road. Now that Georgia residents will start taking that $5,000 deduction, we need to make sure our state legislators are prepared and supportive of the “green” investment the state is making.

Georgia also offers a tax credit to businesses for buying (or leasing) and installing a charging station: 10% of the cost of the charging station, up to $2,500. This is important because it opens the EV ownership door to city dwellers who don’t have a garage. The Wheego LiFe electric car is a 2-seater with a range of 100 miles per charge, perfect for commuting to and from work. Most drivers will plug the car into the charging port in their garage at night and be good to go for another 100 miles the next morning. But a huge, young, and enthusiastically green slice of Atlanta’s population live in areas that are perfect for an EV – within a 50-mile commute of work – but don’t have a garage. Apartment and condo dwellers, and residents of older intown neighborhoods are perfect candidates for an at-work charging station. They’ll drive their car to work, charge it while they work, and be good to go for another 100 miles. Over the next few years, we’ll see more employers offer charging stations as part of a benefits package, and we’ll see additional charging stations pop up as retailers embrace this new way to attract consumers to stay longer. Anywhere that currently offers wi-fi is a good candidate for a charging station, since the theory is the same: offer a service that brings the consumer in, make them comfortable and hopefully they’ll drink more coffee, stay at the same hotel next time, buy more books. The charging technology is evolving.  When “rapid-charge” stations are the norm and you can fully charge your car in 20 minutes, retailers will jump on this chance to offer a valuable service to their shoppers. You’ll be able to charge while you’re in the grocery store, getting a haircut or watching a movie … not just sleeping or working

What has to happen for all of this to become a reality? You’d be surprised how far the technology has come. Coulomb Technologies is making a charging station that companies or municipalities can purchase and install on a stand, like a parking meter. As an EV owner, you join the “club,” and get a credit card that can be swiped at the charging station. The charge port door pops open, you plug your car in, and you (or your company) are billed for the charge.  A web page and an I-phone app will help you find an available charge station.

Major cities in five states (Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington) are part of the federally-funded EV Project. The Department of Energy is spending $100m to build out the charging infrastructure in targeted cities in these five states. In order to get a free charging station installed in their home, EV drivers agree to provide data on their driving habits and EV usage. The information gleaned from this 3-year project will help the rest of the country prepare for widespread use of EVs. It’s coming!  A community’s rewards for encouraging EV use are great: no emissions, less noise pollution, less dependence on foreign (or domestic!) oil.  As a Georgia resident, you can be an active participant in your community’s EV planning, encourage your employer to install a charging station, and let local businesses know you’d support their initiatives to offer EV charging. Encourage Georgia lawmakers to push for our state’s inclusion if and when the EV Project expands.

It’s time to evaluate your driving habits and see whether an EV would work for you. On average, do you drive fewer than 100 miles each day? Do you have an enclosed garage to charge your car? If you routinely pile five people in your car and drive 500 miles, the Wheego LiFe would not be a candidate for your only car. But if you use your car primarily for commuting each day, Wheego could be a great fit. To learn more about Wheego and reserve your LiFe, visit www.wheego.net.

“We are on schedule to be the first company to offer an affordable all-electric car in the U.S.,” announced Wheego CEO Mike McQuary. “Other auto companies [...]]]> ATLANTA (June 14,  2010) – WHEEGO ELECTRIC CARS today announced they are taking reservations for the all-electric Wheego Whip LiFe car on their website at www.wheego.net.

“We are on schedule to be the first company to offer an affordable all-electric car in the U.S.,” announced Wheego CEO Mike McQuary. “Other auto companies have made announcements of the upcoming availability of their electric cars, but for the most part, their cars are being released in only a few cities, and in limited quantities. Our Wheego Whip LiFe will ship to customers first-come, first-served across the U.S. beginning in September, and everyone who makes a reservation will be driving their car before the end of the year. The Whip LiFe has a lithium battery pack, is made of 75% U.S. content, and is assembled in Ontario, California. It is an example of American ingenuity at its finest.”

The highway-ready Wheego Whip LiFe goes approximately 100 miles on a charge, and retails for $32,995. The Wheego Whip LiFe qualifies for a $7,500 Federal tax credit, dropping the net price to under $26,000. States such as California and Georgia offer State tax credits or rebates up to $5,000 to further reduce the net price of the car. In addition, Congress has legislation pending that proposes an additional $2,000 electric vehicle incentive.

“We have had incredible interest in our Wheego Whip LiFe,” said McQuary. “I think the public understands that the time has finally come to make electric vehicles a part of everyday life. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has certainly highlighted that it’s time for a change. There are a lot of people talking about this problem, and now there is a chance to take action. A groundswell of public support for electric cars continues to grow. Once you have gone a few months without filling up your car at a gas station, you will be hooked on the idea of never doing it again. Americans are insistent on decreasing our dependence on foreign oil now; and on domestic oil, for that matter. You will recharge this car every night in your garage, and be good to go for 100 miles the next day: around the neighborhood, on the highway, everywhere you took your gas guzzler- except to the gas station.”

The new Wheego Whip LiFe comes fully-equipped with driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, and power windows and locks. The 115V lithium battery pack can be charged from a standard 120V outlet, a 240V outlet or any of the J1772 standard charging stations. It is available in red, white, blue, black, silver, and green. The Wheego Whip LiFe is a two-seat subcompact car with fit, finish and features that compete with any other subcompact car on the market. 

Drivers can reserve a Wheego LiFe by:

• Visiting www.wheego.net
• Making a fully refundable $100 down-payment
• Receiving a reservation number
• Providing contact information for follow-up by a registered Wheego dealer

About Wheego Electric Cars

Wheego Electric Cars is an innovation-driven and environmentally-conscious manufacturer of Electric Vehicles (EVs).  Under the leadership of Mike McQuary, CEO and former MindSpring entrepreneur, Wheego Electric Cars has become a leader in the integration of advanced technology components.  Wheego Electric Cars is one of the first EV companies to deliver affordable fully capable, street legal all-electric cars for everyday consumer use. The Wheego line of electric vehicles is emission-free, making them an ideal choice for consumers and businesses who want to reduce their carbon footprint. Wheego is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The cars are assembled in Ontario, California.

For more information about Wheego, and to view the list of Wheego dealers, visit the company website at www.wheego.net.

###

The state has pulled the plug on tax credits for electric vehicle buyers.

A law passed Friday, the final day of the legislative session, eliminating the tax credit effective July 1. The changes won’t impact existing tax credit applications or pending litigation because it isn’t retroactive, [...]]]> by Jennifer Palmer for OKNews.com, June 2, 2010

The state has pulled the plug on tax credits for electric vehicle buyers.

A law passed Friday, the final day of the legislative session, eliminating the tax credit effective July 1. The changes won’t impact existing tax credit applications or pending litigation because it isn’t retroactive, the Oklahoma Tax Commission said.

Though individuals will no longer be able to claim a state tax credit on electric cars, the law adds a new incentive for manufacturers. Credits of $500 for low-speed, $1,000 for medium-speed and $2,000 for highway-capable electric vehicles will now be available to companies producing these vehicles in the state.

Atlanta-based Wheego is considering Piedmont as the site of its new production facility, but Chief Executive Officer Mike McQuary said Tuesday the change to Oklahoma‘s law is “a disappointment.”

“The consumer tax credit was the most attractive thing for us about coming to Oklahoma,” he said. It had been successful in getting more Wheego cars on the road, he added.

Wheego plans to decide in the near future if it will build its new production plant.

“Oklahoma went from the top of the list to somewhere in the pack,” McQuary said.

Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Dacoma, who authored the bill, said the manufacturers’ credits were added with the hopes of landing the Wheego facility or others like it, to create jobs and bring in new business.

“I think if the government is going to be involved, we need to be doing things that create jobs and invest in the state,” Hickman said.

The consumer credit, he said, didn’t create jobs or have a positive fiscal impact on the state. It had become too costly.

So far, the approved credits on 2009 tax returns have cost the state about $3.3 million, and many claims are still pending, the tax commission said.

Last year, the state credit of 50 percent of the purchase price, combined with a $7,500 federal tax credit, caused a buying frenzy with dealers advertising models of low-speed electric vehicles for as little as $1,000 or less after factoring in the credits.

Sales tempered after the Oklahoma Tax Commission announced only certain models would qualify for the credit.

Roger Gaddis, owner of Ada Electric Cars, along with several other dealers is suing the Tax Commission over their handling of the credits. He said he invested a lot in his business and now is stuck with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of unsold inventory.

“We’ve sold almost no cars since Jan. 1,” he said. Some customers blame him, he added, even though the Tomberlin models he mainly sold were first approved for the credit, then later disqualified. The lawsuit, filed in December in Oklahoma County District Court, is ongoing.

Read more: http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-tax-credits-on-electric-vehicles-to-end-july-1/article/3465484#ixzz0pi2q02cb

Electric vehicle maker Wheego wants to bring a production plant to Oklahoma because of high sales in 2009. But the Atlanta-based company first wants the reassurance of a state tax credit for its customers.

PIEDMONT — Wheego Electric Cars is considering [...]]]> by Jennifer Palmier for NewsOK, May 15, 2010

Electric vehicle maker Wheego wants to bring a production plant to Oklahoma because of high sales in 2009. But the Atlanta-based company first wants the reassurance of a state tax credit for its customers.

PIEDMONT — Wheego Electric Cars is considering Oklahoma for a new production facility but first wants the reassurance of a state tax credit for its customers. 
The Atlanta-based electric car maker is looking at Piedmont as the site for its second U.S. production facility because one of its dealers, AMP Control, owns land there, said Wheego CEO Mike McQuary. The company currently assembles the cars in Ontario, Calif.

Wheego makes the Whip, a low-speed electric vehicle that seats two and reaches a top speed of 35 miles per hour. But the company plans to debut its highway-capable Whip LiFe model in August, with maximum speed of about 65 miles per hour.McQuary said he wants to build the production facility in a location where a lot of cars are sold, and in 2009 Oklahoma held the company’s highest sales.But uncertainty over whether the state tax credit will continue has placed plans for the production plant on hold.

The state tax credit is for 50 percent of the purchase price of an electric vehicle. That, combined with a $7,500 federal tax credit, caused a buying frenzy last year with dealers advertising models of low-speed electric vehicles for as little as $1,000 or less after factoring in the credits.Sales tempered after the Oklahoma Tax Commission announced only certain models would qualify for the credit (the Wheego Whip is one of those models).About 1,500 taxpayers claimed the electric vehicle tax credit for 2009, the tax commission said. Of those, about 500 have been approved, 480 were denied and the rest are being processed.The law allowing the state tax credit is still in place but the Legislature is considering appealing or amending the statute, said Paula Ross, a spokeswoman for the tax commission.For 2010, the federal tax credit on low-speed models was reduced to a maximum of $2,500 but high-speed vehicles, such as the Wheego LiFe, are still eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.Piedmont Mayor Mike Fina said he’s concerned that if state tax incentives are eliminated, so will the potential for an electric vehicle industry in Oklahoma and the city of Piedmont”It’s such a new and interesting concept. It brings notoriety to Piedmont. That’s exciting for us,” said Fina, who also works as director of policy and communications for Lt. Gov. Jari Askins.Fina said he’s been urging legislators to keep the tax credit in some form.”We want to encourage people to buy these cars,” he said. “We’re trying to change the attitude in an oil-powered state. You need to give people some encouragement.”

MIAMI, Okla. — With gas prices in the neighborhood of $2.75 a gallon, Scott Kreeger figures it costs 13.8 cents a mile just in fuel costs to deliver pizzas using a vehicle with a traditional combustion engine.

Now, he figures he will be able [...]]]> By Andy Ostmeyer for the Joplin Globe, April 27, 2010

MIAMI, Okla. — With gas prices in the neighborhood of $2.75 a gallon, Scott Kreeger figures it costs 13.8 cents a mile just in fuel costs to deliver pizzas using a vehicle with a traditional combustion engine.

Now, he figures he will be able to do it for about 2.4 cents per mile.

Kreeger is director of operations for two Pizza Hut restaurants in Miami, as well as Pizza Hut restaurants in Grove, Jay, Baxter Springs, Kan., and Columbus, Kan. His father, Renick Kreeger, is the franchisee.

They recently bought a Wheego Whip, an all-electric, low-speed car, and started making some of their first deliveries in Miami last week. The car, a two-seater, has a dozen batteries in the back that allow it to scoot around town at no more 35 mph — perfect for their business.

“They call them neighborhood vehicles,” Scott Kreeger said. “They will do about 20 deliveries. “It plugs into a regular household 110 outlet. You can get about 40 miles on an eight-hour charge. It is supposed to cost no more than what it costs to run your refrigerator.” Kreeger estimates that combustion-engine vehicles that get 20 miles to a gallon of gas would cost between 13 and 14 cents per mile to operate at current prices. He estimates he will be able to charge his Wheego for 96 cents per day, or 2.4 cents per mile.

He calculates that over a year, he won’t have to buy 730 gallons of gas, which would cost more than $2,000 at $2.75 per gallon. At 96 cents a day to charge, it will cost $350 to run the Wheego. That’s a savings of more than $1,650 a year.

The all-electric car cost around $21,000 to buy, which means it would take more than a decade for it to pay for itself, except that Kreeger’s 2009 Whip also qualified for a $7,500 federal tax credit (which has since been reduced) and a $10,000 tax credit from the state of Oklahoma. In other words, the car pays for itself in less than two years, Kreeger said, with one additional upside: no tailpipe emissions.

The car has been a big hit around town so far, Kreeger said. “We’re getting a lot of people looking at it when we’re driving it around,” he said.

Andy Ostmeyer is the metro editor for The Joplin Globe.

As many of our readers know, Mapawatt’s headquarters is located Atlanta, Georgia.  When most people think of renewable energy, they think of clean-tech centers like California, Oregon, Washington, etc.  This is why I was thrilled to find another great clean energy startup based [...]]]> MapaWatt, February 12, 2010

Wheego Electric Car

As many of our readers know, Mapawatt’s headquarters is located Atlanta, Georgia.  When most people think of renewable energy, they think of clean-tech centers like California, Oregon, Washington, etc.  This is why I was thrilled to find another great clean energy startup based in Atlanta.

Wheego Electric Cars provides Low Speed Vehicles (LSV), Medium Speed Vehicles (MSEV) and will soon provide highway speed electric vehicles through a nationwide dealer network.  Michael McQuary, one of the founders of MindSpring in Atlanta is the Chairman and CEO.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes the LSV class of vehicles and several states have laws allowing for LSV vehicles on roads with speed limits posted as 35mph or less.  By definition, the LSV must be able to achieve at least 20mph, not to exceed 25mph and must meet federal motor vehicle safety requirements such as headlights, brake lights, turn signals, safety belts, etc.  Most states also require vehicle registration.  As you can imagine, the LSV has limited use for most consumers unless you live in a community that has access to most venues with a road system with a 35mph speed limit.  However, the Wheego LSV can serve these consumers as a second vehicle.

Six states have adopted enhanced legislation for medium speed vehicles (MSV/MSEV) that increase the maximum speed to 35mph and require a safety cage or hard-shelled exterior.  They still can only be driven on roads with a 35mph speed limit.  Since the Wheego LSV is governed at 25mph, the same vehicle can be reprogrammed to travel at 35mph.

Wheego Whip LiFe Announcement at the DC Auto Show

This summer, Wheego will be releasing a new car that will travel at highway speeds and have a range of 100 miles.  They announced the Wheego Whip LiFe at the Auto Show in Washington, DC at the end of January.  Unlike the previous Whips, the Life has a 65mph top speed and uses a 28kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack and management system provided by Flux Power in California.  The LiFe will undergo crash testing and be available later this year at a price point around $35,000

Tax Incentives?

The Wheego Whip LSV qualifies for a 10% federal tax credit that requires having the buyer pay the full price of the vehicle and then file for a tax refund at the end of the year of 10% of the cost of the vehicle up to a $2,500 maximum credit.  Some states have additional tax breaks for LSVs but they vary by state.  The federal incentives for a highway speed are slightly more complex but provide a much larger incentive for purchasing an electric vehicle.  It varies depending on the size of the battery storage system.

Qualifying electric vehicles will receive a $2,500 tax credit plus $417 if the battery pack is at least 5kWh.  Owners will also receive an additional $417 for each kilowatt-hour of storage over 5kWh.  However, the complete tax credit may not exceed $7,500.  If we do the math on the Wheego Whip LiFE for federal tax credits, the storage system is well within the range to qualify for the complete $7,500 tax credit. (any EV with at least 16kWh of storage will qualify for the full federal tax credit)

Some states also provide additional tax incentives to encourage residents to purchase highway speed electrics.  I will be providing a guide in an upcoming post that will help you navigate state and federal tax incentives for electric vehicles.

If you live in a community that is self-contained with a 35mph road system, the LSV may make a great second car for you.  An example of a self-contained community is a small town or planned community that has all of the amenities needed within the range of an electric LSV such as shopping, grocery stores, dining, entertainment, recreation, etc.

If you live in a city with more traffic and congestion, have access to amenities within the range of an LSV, and the roads have a 35mph speed limit, I would recommend that you hold out for a MSV since it will give you more protection in an accident and will be able to travel at the maximum posted speed limit.  However, don’t forget that your community also has to allow for LSV and MSVs before you can register your car and travel on the road.

For the rest of us, I’m looking forward to all of the highway speed electric vehicles that are scheduled to be released this year.  Between the Wheego Whip LiFe and the Nissan Leaf, we’ll all have some great options for a functional second vehicle that runs on electricity!

I reported yesterday that price was one of the “Seven Barriers to the Electric Car.” Indeed it is, but some states are trying to reduce the economic hurt by offering [...]]]> by Jim Motavalli for BNET, March 18, 2010

I reported yesterday that price was one of the “Seven Barriers to the Electric Car.” Indeed it is, but some states are trying to reduce the economic hurt by offering consumers electric subsidies – in the form of either tax breaks or straight rebates.

The most generous subsidy to date is probably Oklahoma’s, where buyers can get a tax credit worth 50 percent of the purchase price of  an electric vehicle (EV). Some savvy consumers combined the state break with an equally useful one from the federal government to buy electric golf carts and relatively low-cost neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), which are cars that can’t go on the highways. Roger Gaddis, who owns Ada Electric Cars in Oklahoma, did the math on an $8,000 vehicle. “The state credit is 50 percent—that’s $4,000,” Gaddis said. “The federal credit on that particular car is $4,400, which makes the car free. Is that about the coolest thing you’ve ever heard?”

It was very cool for Atlanta-based Wheego, which makes NEVs and has sold more than 100 of them (of its 300 to 400 total sales) in Oklahoma. Last September, the state tightened up the requirements somewhat, ruling, “The exclusion includes vehicles that have a body configuration more akin to that of a typical golf cart or go-cart rather than a traditional passenger automobile and vehicles that are principally designed and manufactured for sporting or recreational purposes.” Wheego is still safe.

Then there is California’s rebate, which went into effect early this week. Customers (even those that don’t pay taxes, such as non-profits and government agencies) can get a $5,000 check when buying a standard battery electric car, and as much as $20,000 if they buy electric trucks. The state has allocated $4.1 million for the program.

The state of California is staggering under a $20 billion deficit, and Christopher DeMorro, writing at Gas 2.0, asks, “Are there really enough [electric vehicles] to justify the $4.1 million at a time when many state governments are tightening the fiscal belt?”

That’s certainly a good question. Maybe it would help to explain that the cash payments are coming not from California’s general fund but from revenue siphoned off of Department of Motor Vehicle registration fees. But it’s still state money.

At presstime, the California Center for Sustainable Energy, which is administering the program, said no one had yet applied for the first-come, first-served subsidies, but that may be because so few electric cars are on the market . The $109,000 Tesla Roadster, in fact, is the only roadworthy example on the state’s eligibility list.

The $4.1 million fund will be replenished next year, and by then such more modestly priced EVs as the Chevrolet Volt, Coda sedan and Nissan Leaf will be on the market. As Jay Friedland of Plug In America points out, this would enable consumers to buy cars like the Leaf for something like $20,000, taking into account the federal subsidy.

EV advocates, not surprisingly, called for just such state and federal jump-starts at a Senate hearing last month. They point out, reasonably, that EV prices will only come down with high volume, and that government fleets would be a good start. California’s subsidy will undoubtedly put electric cars into state and local government motor pools.

Here’s a video look at why it could be a good deal to buy a Nissan Leaf in one of America’s greenest cities, San Diego:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K_DxbK50yg&feature=player_embedded

This story wouldn’t be complete without a special citation of Colorado’s tax credit, which allowed motorists to deduct 85 percent of the difference between the purchase price of their electric car compared to its conventional counterpart. This meant, in practice, that consumers could buy a Tesla Roadster and write off more than $40,000, which is the difference between the Tesla and the Lotus gas car it’s based on. That expired at the end of last year, alas.

Here, courtesy of The Car Electric, are some of the more interesting state tax benefits for owning zero emission cars:

• Arizona: A $75 credit for taxpayers installing EV charging at home.
• California: EVs can ride in high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes without meeting occupancy requirements. In Sacramento, there’s free parking in city lots.
• Florida: Unrestricted access to HOV lanes.
• Georgia: A tax credit good for 20 percent of the EV’s purchase price, or $5,000 (whichever is less).
• Illinois: A tax rebate of up to 80 percent of the vehicle’s cost, or $4,000 (whichever is less).
• Kansas: $2,400 tax credit for vehicles up to 10,000 pounds.
• Louisiana: A 20 percent tax credit for electric vehicles.
• Michigan: Exemption from the annual emissions inspection.
• New Jersey: No state sales tax on EVs; access to HOV lanes; and a $4,000 tax rebate).
• Utah: Free metered parking in Salt Lake City, plus access to HOV lanes.

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Jim Motavalli is the author of Forward Drive: The Race to Build Clean Cars for the Future, among other books. He has been covering the environmental side of the auto industry for more than a decade, and writes regularly on those topics for the New York Times.

Wheego President Jeff Boyd [...]]]>  Atlanta, Georgia (February 17, 2010) – WHEEGO ELECTRIC CARS, manufacturer of all-electric vehicles, today announced it has signed Ellis Brooks Auto Center as its dealer with exclusive rights to sell the Wheego Electric Car product line throughout California’s San Francisco Bay Area Including San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Francisco Counties.

Wheego President Jeff Boyd says Wheego is targeting successful dealers such as Ellis Brooks who are interested in looking to the future with Electric Vehicles. “Ellis Brooks has the right culture, customer base, and location,” explains Boyd. “They are green in terms of the environment, but certainly not in terms of experience. They are seasoned professionals, and they will hit the ground running. Our low-speed vehicle is shipping now, and our full speed all electric car, named LiFe will be available to customers at Ellis Brooks Auto this summer.”

Ellis Brooks Auto Center, a family-run business, was established in San Francisco in 1939. John Brooks is the General Manager; his uncle Arthur is the Production Manager, and their mother/Grandmother, Marie Brooks, overseas the family’s auto holdings including Ellis Brooks Motors in Yreka, California.  The Brooks family sees Electric Vehicles as the future of the automotive industry. “We have weathered many economic cycles since 1939,” says Mrs. Brooks. “We’ve remained relevant and competitive because we listen to what our customers want. And what they are asking for now… is electric cars. The Wheego cars are all electric – no gas, no emissions. We are excited to be able to deliver an eco-friendly, affordable and innovative car to San Francisco.” 

Ellis Brooks will introduce the Wheego Whip to San Francisco with a test-drive event at their dealership on February 20. “We think people will be surprised at the performance and affordability of this car,” said GM John Brooks. “We invite the public, fleet purchasers and local media to take it for a spin.” The event will be open from 9:00a.m to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday February 20^th.

The Wheego Whip LSV (Low-Speed Vehicle) runs on sealed lead-acid batteries and qualifies for a 10% Federal Tax Credit in 2010. With a sticker price of $18,995, the Wheego Whip LSV net price is just over $17,000.

The Wheego Whip LiFe Full-Speed all-electric car is expected in the summer of 2010. A prototype of the car was unveiled in January at the Washington D.C. Auto Show. The Whip LiFe runs on a lithium battery pack, and will go approximately 100 miles on a charge. The sticker price on the Wheego Whip LiFe is targeted for the low $30k’s; the Whip LiFe qualifies for a $7500 Federal Tax Credit. Interested customers may reserve a car at Wheego.net/life.

Both Wheego Whip models are fully-loaded two-seat compact cars with fit, finish and features that compete with any other subcompact car on the market.  Features include remote keyless entry, air conditioning, and MP3 stereo system.

 About Wheego Electric Cars

Wheego Electric Cars is an innovation-driven and environmentally-conscious manufacturer of Electric Vehicles (EVs).  Under the leadership of Mike McQuary, CEO and former MindSpring entrepreneur, Wheego Electric Cars has become a leader in the integration of advanced technology components.  Wheego Electric Cars is one of the first EV companies to deliver affordable fully capable, street legal electric cars for everyday consumer use. For more information about Wheego, visit the company website at wheego.net.

About Ellis Brooks Auto Center

Established in 1939, Ellis Brooks Auto Center is located in the heart of San Francisco at 1395 Van Ness Avenue. Customer loyalty, satisfaction and repeat business are the cornerstones of the company. Ellis Brooks offers high-quality used cars and Wheego Electric vehicles. For more information about Ellis Brooks Auto, visit the company website at www.ellisbrooks.com or call 415-776-2400.