Earlier quoted context omitted.
You don't even have to itemize (it isn't a deduction), so I think most people would be able to take full advantage of it. I would bet anyone who is in the market for a $35k+ car (or even 28.5k+) is going to be at a point where they can take full advantage of the rebate.
It's a credit yes, but it's not a refundable credit. Which means you need to owe at least that amount of tax. So for 2016 that means a single person has to earn at least $46,900 to get the full benefit (assuming no other non-refundable credits). The median US personal income for 2016 was about $31,100, so I think it's fair to say the majority of Americans can not take full advantage, although I agree with your last s…
Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
51–60 of 298 posts
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#52At $35k+ with 240 miles of range, it's starting to get close but realistically not quite there yet for "mass market" adoption. I hope I'm wrong but this will likely be a minor seller. Also re: the $7500 federal tax rebate, most people can't take full advantage because they don't owe that much and it doesn't carry over past the first year. Still a good program but not a magic wand solution.
> $7500 federal tax rebate, most people can't take full advantage because they don't owe that much I am pretty sure most of those who can afford to purchase a 35k+ car are making at least 40k / year and owe that much in federal taxes, unless I am not calculating something right
Maybe you are thinking of FICA?
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#53Hours per week charging is better than hours per day, but still only practical for people who can run heavy wiring to a private garage. I keep wishing gas station battery swaps were happening.
It will be a very, very long time before standardized batteries are a thing, if they ever will be. As soon as true self driving cars are a legal thing nobody will even own a car anymore, it won't make any sense.
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#54Hours per week charging is better than hours per day, but still only practical for people who can run heavy wiring to a private garage. I keep wishing gas station battery swaps were happening.
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#55At $35k+ with 240 miles of range, it's starting to get close but realistically not quite there yet for "mass market" adoption. I hope I'm wrong but this will likely be a minor seller. Also re: the $7500 federal tax rebate, most people can't take full advantage because they don't owe that much and it doesn't carry over past the first year. Still a good program but not a magic wand solution.
> $7500 federal tax rebate, most people can't take full advantage because they don't owe that much I am pretty sure most of those who can afford to purchase a 35k+ car are making at least 40k / year and owe that much in federal taxes, unless I am not calculating something right
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#56I wonder if it makes more sense to lease vs. buy now (since self driving, electric, etc. technology is progressing quickly) -- it seems like lease discount/money factor isn't going down as quickly as it should with these cars. (I've never bought a new car, and never leased as a car, but probably will get a new EV as my next -- an S, 3, or Bolt.) Owning is great if you keep the car for 8-12 years like I've done, but I…
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#57Note that this is the Bolt not the Volt. Even as a petrol head who owns a V8 and a Subaru STI, I really like what GM has done with this vehicle. Really really great review from Doug DeMuro here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ogGZXmepY Doug has a great style - really digs deep into all the quirks and oddities of the cars he reviews.
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#58We just managed to sell another flagship GM vehicle, and the software was so bad, it was nearly a deal-breaker. (Most years of this model had software bugs that were so bad, they could literally kill you — for example, the exhaust system could overheat, and burn the car down). Also, basic electro-mechanical things, like seat belts and the FM radio started to die after 3-4 years. This is with light use in CA. Even whe…
GM has been during PR on this car but the software is still far from complete.
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#59Hours per week charging is better than hours per day, but still only practical for people who can run heavy wiring to a private garage. I keep wishing gas station battery swaps were happening.
This is my issue also, although I suppose I represent a small fraction of the market -- I live in an urban apartment building with street parking, I won't be able to charge an EV at home until the infrastructure gets much, much better. This means I'd have to factor charging into all my trips, which messes up the user experience pretty badly.
Re: Chevy Bolt: the First Practical, Mass-Market Electric Vehicle
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
He knows his targets are ripe for takeover. The car industry is stuck in the past.
can't take over the car industry when you can barely deliver 14% of what you promised: https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/20/jpmorgan-slashes-its-tesla-m...