In the Market for an Electric Business Vehicle?
.
Subsidized fuels and health effects
According to the U.S. Statistical Abstract, between 2010 and 2013, U.S. taxpayers subsidized alternative fuels via four categories:
1) tax credits and deductions for clean-fuel burning vehicles ($820 million)
2) alternative fuels product credit ($550 million)
3) alcohol fuel credits ($400 million); and 4) bio-diesel producer tax credits ($30 million).
That’s a lot of money to spend on subsidized fuels.
Shouldn’t we instead use this money to fund new highway construction and/or repair the roads we already have via the U.S. Highway Trust Fund?
Given the fact that with the current drop in gasoline prices, the U.S. Highway Trust Fund will likely collect less money this year than this same time last year (the U.S. Highway Trust Fund is a transportation fund which receives money from a federal fuel tax of 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel fuel and related excise taxes)?
According to the University of Minnesota’s findings, internal combustion vehicles running on corn-based ethanol and electric vehicles whose batteries are charged by electricity derived from coal were the worst polluters.
Their health effects were 80 percent worse when compared to gasoline vehicles. When compared to electric vehicles powered by natural gas, wind, hydroelectric (water), or solar energy, these forms of electricity might reduce health impacts by close to 50 percent when compared to gasoline vehicles according to the study.
If you want to label yourself a true environmentalist, make sure your electric vehicle’s battery is charged by one of the cleaner forms of electricity.
Related articles:
Green Steps to Engage Hispanic Businesses and Consumers
The Hispanic Edge in Green Business