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Odyssey Preparations Under WayAdvanced Energy Initiative Provides for Ethanol Development EPA Revises MPG Estimate Methods and Stickers Hybrid Car Sales and Tax Credits Become Hot Topic FuelMaker Marketing Phill in France Fiberglass Fuel Tanks May Fail with Ethanol Usage Combat Global Warming First Biodiesel Plant in Indiana Grand Challenge Winner Fueled by Biomass Seeking Success Stories 
From the Office of the Executive Director Consortium Staff Update CCSN Holds Alternative Fuels Conference GEM Donates Car to CCBC-Catonsville NAFTC Members Prepare for February Business Meeting Wentworth Instructor Still Performing CNG Conversions NAFTC Conducts Hybrid First Responders Beta Test  
February 05-08 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo San Diego, CA February 08-11 NAFTC Business Meeting Washington, DC February 20-22 National Ethanol Conference Las Vegas, NV February 22-24 Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Conference San Diego, CA March 12-16 NHA Hydrogen Conference Long Beach, CA October 12, 2006 National AFV Day Odyssey |
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A recent report published by J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting Services has predicted a dramatic increase in the sales of hybrid-electric vehicles between 2005 and 2012. The report forecasted the increase of figures by as much as 268 percent. Consumers purchased approximately 212,000 hybrid vehicles in 2005 and are expected to purchase nearly 780,000 by 2012. Even though there is expected to be a large increase in the sales of hybrid-electric vehicles, hybrids will remain a small share of the U.S. vehicle market. The report shows that hybrid vehicles comprised 1.3 percent of the U.S. light-vehicle sales in 2005 and will comprise 4.2 percent of the market share by 2012. One of the main factors contributing to the expected increase in hybrid sales is a variety of choices provided to the consumer interested in purchasing a more economically friendly vehicle. There is a significant increase in the number of models available in new market segments to consumers. In 2000, the hybrid-electric market was only comprised of two models and sold fewer than 10,000 vehicles. However, in 2005, there were eleven models available to consumers which contributed to the increase in sales to nearly 212,000. Fourteen models are expected to be available to consumers in 2006. Another factor leading to the increase in hybrid sales is the introduction of tax credits for hybrid vehicles. In 2005, consumers who purchased hybrid vehicles were eligible for a $2,000 maximum tax deduction. The new tax credit, which went into effect with vehicles sold as of January 1, 2006, can have a value of up to $3,600 per vehicle. However, the tax credit is based on a timed sliding scale and is limited to the first 60,000 vehicles sold and put into service. The new law states that the tax credits will end in 2010, if they have not been utilized. The 60,000 limit applies to all tax-credit-eligible hybrids and alternate fuel vehicles sold by each manufacturer, not per model. In addition, the tax credit will not be the same for all vehicles. The credits will be calculated per vehicle model and will be formulated based on both fuel savings and reduced emissions.
More information on hybrid tax credits can be found at www.aceee.org/transportation/hybtaxcred.htm. |
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