Americans are trading-in their electric cars and hybrids

Insights, Issues & Istook

Many Americans who bought electric cars are now disenchanted. Billions of tax dollars were spent to induce you to buy an electric car, or at least a hybrid. That includes a $7,500 per car federal incentive, plus state subsidies. Despite the government checks, these remain expensive vehicles. Buyers soon learn that electric cars have limited range because big batteries are super-heavy and a charge won't take you very far. Performance also lags as other cars accelerate past you. Fuel savings? With high gasoline prices it took five years to make up for the costlier sticker price of the car. With gas prices down, now it takes ten years—longer than most people keep a car. No, you do NOT recover the higher purchase price by saving on gasoline. President Obama promised one million electric vehicles would be on our roads by now. Despite the billions spent, we're still 800-thousand cars short. When Americans choose for themselves, they are not choosing the electric cars. Maybe someday those vehicles will improve, but that time is still many years away.