A lot of what goes into getting people to adopt electric vehicles has to do with education, but it turns out that electric vehicle manufacturers, automobile dealerships, and government entities aren’t doing such a great job.
Take a look around, and I’m sure you’ll find lots of information about how electric vehicles are cleaner than conventional vehicles, can save you money on fuel, and a fun to drive. You might also find information on how much they cost, which can be daunting for some. What you might not find would be information on the incentives available to help buyers afford their new electric vehicle. After all, maybe an electric vehicle would make perfect sense in the area in which you live, but if you can’t afford to buy it in the first place, what’s the point?
True, much like hybrid electric vehicles are a couple thousand dollars more than their conventional counterparts, pure electric vehicles are many thousands of dollars more. This is something well-known. What isn’t so well-known is that there are federal and state incentives that can significantly reduce the overall cost to buy an electric vehicle, and some hybrid electric vehicles, as well. Depending on where you live, these incentives can range anywhere from $2,500 to $15,000 between state and federal tax rebates. Don’t forget free parking and access to the HOV lanes, too.
According to a recent study by researchers at Indiana University [IU], a staggering 95% of drivers had no idea they could receive such tax benefits, and 75% didn’t understand the kind of fuel and maintenance savings they could get with an electric vehicle. One group of 758 persons who lived in an area that offered subsidies for home electric vehicle charging equipment and installation, just 2 knew about those subsidies. With responses like this, probably similar worldwide, it’s really no wonder that we’re so far behind its goals of electrifying the world’s roads and highways.
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