News: Electric Vehicles Are Here to Stay

Consumers can still take advantage of a federal credit of up to $7500 for all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars. Most major car companies offer eligible cars and there are a variety of vehicle sizes, styles and price points available. The Environmental Protection Agency has a Green Vehicle Guide to help with decision making.

EVs help reduce the burden of vehicle emissions, which are a major source of air pollution, especially in metropolitan areas. The transportation sector is a major culprit in the creation of ozone and of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. When EVs are powered by electricity from solar or wind generators, they become one of cleanest forms of transportation around. Early adopters of EVs help move us toward a future of cleaner energy and transportation.

Georgia’s electric vehicle (EV) tax credit made the state one of the top in the country for EV sales, but sales are down about 90% since the legislature eliminated the state’s $5000 EV tax credit about a year ago.  Georgia might see a return of the EV tax credit; state lawmakers recently created a joint study committee of the Georgia House and Senate to examine the impact of eliminating the Alternative Fuel Vehicle tax credit in 2015.

Mothers & Others for Clean Air supports policies that reduce air pollution from mobile sources, including tax incentives for alternatively fueled vehicles. We urge lawmakers to take the benefits of EVs seriously and support the growth of this critical industry.