[meanderingthemaze]

Has anyone ever wondered what would happen if everyone who was interested in doing a conversion got together and demanded rebates equal to those given to new electric cars?

I mean, conversions are just as (if not more) environmentally friendly than new electric cars. That would really make it possible for lots of people to get into an electric car on the cheap.

[Max57TBird]

Originally Posted by meanderingthemaze

Has anyone ever wondered what would happen if everyone who was interested in doing a conversion got together and demanded rebates equal to those given to new electric cars?

I mean, conversions are just as (if not more) environmentally friendly than new electric cars. That would really make it possible for lots of people to get into an electric car on the cheap.

Come to Colorful Colorado; here is a link to the explanation of the rebates available to qualifing conversions. They can be up to $ 6,000.00. Hope I can finish mine before the state gets as broke as Calif.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite...&ssbinary=true

[meanderingthemaze]

Sweet!

In CA, they only give you 10% of the "kit" cost. But CA gives out $5K for NEW EVs. So what's up with that?
Then, there is the Federal rebates to consider. They're giving out $7.5K. But nothing to conversions.

If you buy a NEW EV in CA, you get $12.5K back in credits/rebates. But since we are talking about emissions, what is the REAL diff between NEW and CONVERTED? Why not give equal credits for equal emissions ratings?

That would allow many converters to go Lion that couldn't otherwise. Or it would allow individuals who aren't interested in DIY, to contract a mechanic to do the labor. If we really want EVs on the road, this is a more cost-effective way to go about doing it.

[rillip3]

Sounds reasonable to me! Here in North Carolina, you get nothing for either though, so I guess I can't complain much.

[meanderingthemaze]

Colorado is looking pretty nice right now.

@rillip3, that's exactly why you need to complain!!!

[juddmeyers]

I had the IRS call me the other day (terrifying) and my understanding from them is that there is a 10 percent credit nationwide until at least the end of 2011. 30B sub1 up to 40k conversion cost. To further screw things up, I have been to several banks and am basically told conversions can only be financed for the amount the car books for. This is the most important thing to get past if we are going to get a few million of these on the road in the next couple years.

[meanderingthemaze]

Well, the other problem with financing is that you have to start making payments for something that you aren't driving yet, which is a problem for some.

But what you heard from the IRS is what is troubling me. Why are we subsidizing the giant automakers when everyone on this forum knows well and good that DIYers can make perfectly good EVs that do just as well as new cars on the road? Our gov't is busy bailing out large corps, but leaving us "little guys" out. That bothers me to no end. And frankly I'm surprised at the complacency. I mean, are we so cynical that we don't think we can make change by a collective scream? There are other groups who are doing just that as I write this. Lobbyists are doing it too.

I'm not even asking for a bailout, so to speak. I just think that if we want to incentivize "progress" (ie: EVs), then why not do it even-handedly.

Geez, it sounds like I'm running for office or something. But really this irks me, and I wish there were other people out there who could relate.

Anyway...end rant...for now

[HighTech]

Originally Posted by meanderingthemaze

Has anyone ever wondered what would happen if everyone who was interested in doing a conversion got together and demanded rebates equal to those given to new electric cars?

I mean, conversions are just as (if not more) environmentally friendly than new electric cars. That would really make it possible for lots of people to get into an electric car on the cheap.

Well, I think we all should get together and demand a refund for our ICE's since they are junk anyway. haha I expect, "Made in China" to be on the back of every new car or truck very soon. "Sigh"

[meanderingthemaze]

lol
so true

[dimitri]

Originally Posted by meanderingthemaze

Then, there is the Federal rebates to consider. They're giving out $7.5K. But nothing to conversions.

This is not true. There is current 10% conversion cost tax rebate, there is an IRS form for it. I use TurboTax online for my taxes and it took a little searching to find the right form, but it was not hard and I got $2000 back for my conversion.

Many other forum members got same rebate, its been discussed a few times here.

Of course it would be nice to get more, but I am glad to get 10% back.