Hybrids - Myths and Facts
Capitalism is all about giving the people what they want. Well, selling the people what they want may be a better way of stating it. This is basic notion is the very reason we have hybrid vehicles today.
The day you knew hybrids were here to stay was the day car companies started announcing hybrid SUVs. Imagine, all the size and little of the guilt. That being said, there are some misconceptions about hybrids, so lets address the big two.
Everyone hates taxes, but not when it comes to hybrids. The common myth is you can get a huge tax benefit if you buy a hybrid. As with anything involving taxes, you should know this is sometimes true and sometimes not.
If you want to claim a tax Credit »”>credit for buying a hybrid, you have to comply with a few regulations. First, you have to purchase a brand new hybrid. Second, the IRS must have ceritifed the car. Third, you can only claim the amount then available.
Many people want to know the amount of the hybrid tax credit, but it is an impossible question to answer. The IRS sets a different amount for each and every car. It then has the option of reducing this amount each quarter of the year.
This lowering of tax credit amounts can be a real shock to someone that purchased a hybrid. As of the writing of this article, the famous Toyota Prius is about to lose all of its tax credit. One has to think that fact is going to hurt sales.
The Japanese manufacturers have always been way ahead in the game. Toyota is about to lose its tax credit, and Honda can see the end of its in a few years time. This is just the way the law was written, not a territorial matter.
The batteries used in hybrid vehicles give us our next area of controversy. These are not the run of the mill batteries found in your average automobile or truck. Rumor has it they don’t last long and are incredibly expensive to repair.
The truth will set you free! In the case of hybrids, this is particularly true. The simple facts are the batteries last for well over a hundred thousand miles. Most car companies even give you a warranty for this mileage.
Hybrids represent definitive progress in kicking our oil addiction. That being said, they are not the cure all to it. When deciding whether to buy a hybrid, ignore the fluff, collect the facts and then do what you think is right.
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