My local tv station has been "teasing" viewers with a news story concerning the cost of charging stations for plug-in electric/hybrid vehicles for about 24-48 hours.
In other words, the "news" story hasn't run, so as is often the case, I'm starting a thread without knowing all (nearly all?) the facts.
BUT, even without the news story having aired yet, the big question the teaser posits is: "Who should be paying for the installation of charging stations that are starting to appear in public places?" Another question they seem to be asking is: "Are these charging stations even needed at this time?"
Since Federal and in many cases state taxpayers paid buyers of hybrid vehicles and, for that matter the manufacturers of hybrid vehicles, for the "priviledge" of being the earliest owners of these vehicles...should we now be paying to build the charging stations, too?
(At this point, one of the "facts" I DON'T know, is how these charging stations will be financed. Will taxpayers foot the bill through their local governments or will all electric company customers pay for these stations...whether they own a car or not?
Discuss:
I'll tell you what I know...
It's sweeps. Doesn't end 'till next Wednesday. Those teases you see? That's what I do for a living. At least part of what I do.
I hate sweeps.
As for paying for the infrastructure- meh. We pay so much to support the automobile infrastructure. I don't see how this is really any different. We give breaks to the oil companies, build all kinds of roads and stuff. The Greenies would say we should spend more of that on busses and trains. Kinda seems to me we need to encourage alternatives at least as much as we support oil.
The question that keeps coming up in my mind is this...
Much of the road tax (taxes for road improvements, etc) are applied to gas. Case in point.. Diesel and dye. I know that some greasel guys ran into a problem with this and got hit with some taxes.
How are they going to police this? Are they going to?
T.J.
SuperDork
2/21/12 8:35 p.m.
In reply to Apexcarver:
That's easy. We will have mandated tracking devices on our cars that will not only report driving habits to our insurance for premium adjustments, but will also report miles driven to the powers that be so that they can automatically deduct our fair share of road taxes based on mileage driven. This system will also, be used to issue speeding tickets that you cannot defend yourself against and the fines will automatically be deducted from your account. It will all be for the children and to make the world a better place so we should all just get on board, sacrifice a little bit, and enjoy the nation's new prosperity.
T.J.
SuperDork
2/21/12 8:37 p.m.
I did see a real live Chevy Volt this past weekend. I thought it looked like a pretty neat car styling wise except that it said VOLT down the side in 2 foot tall lettering. It almost ran me down in the parking lot of the grocery store because it was so quiet. Like a kitten, it needed a bell.
jrw1621
SuperDork
2/21/12 8:51 p.m.
T.J. wrote:
In reply to Apexcarver:
That's easy. We will have mandated tracking devices on our cars that will not only report driving habits to our insurance for premium adjustments, but will also report miles driven to the powers that be so that they can automatically deduct our fair share of road taxes based on mileage driven. This system will also, be used to issue speeding tickets that you cannot defend yourself against and the fines will automatically be deducted from your account. It will all be for the children and to make the world a better place so we should all just get on board, sacrifice a little bit, and enjoy the nation's new prosperity.
Spot on!
http://www.progressive.com/auto/snapshot-how-it-works.aspx
My prediction: Leading up to year 2020 this will be "optional". After that it will be "required."
By "optional" I mean the rates for not having it will default to enormously high rates.
Plus I see parking meters will double as charging stations. A buck will get you 15 minutes or an hour for 3 bucks. Gas cars pay the same price but don't get any additional benefit.
the tax is simple.. once every 3 or 6 months.. you go to a place where they read the odo and charge you for the miles you drive.
Of course, it will only be a short time till they do that to the gas and diesel cars too.. once they figure out how much money they can bring in
Just include it in registration. You get taxed on miles driven, it doesn't require an additional visit anywhere, and it doesn't invade your privacy as much as any other method.
Not to start a political debate, but I find it laughable when people bemoan infrastructure improvements while also complaining about unemployment. I'm not specifically talking about the charging stations, but other significant improvements such as road widening and bridge repairs. If we're throwing our money somewhere, throw it somewhere that it's useful. Remember the war effort? How about a home effort?
gamby
SuperDork
2/22/12 12:24 a.m.
Apexcarver wrote:
The question that keeps coming up in my mind is this...
Much of the road tax (taxes for road improvements, etc) are applied to gas. Case in point.. Diesel and dye. I know that some greasel guys ran into a problem with this and got hit with some taxes.
How are they going to police this? Are they going to?
RI is already pushing for a new toll at the RI/CT border. 
Higher fleet fuel efficiency + so many unemployed people not driving as much = way less gas tax revenue.
