An attempt of Germany to water down CO2 targets, about to be imposed by the EU, explains why automakers are eager to build EVs despite a lack of an eager market. Germany proposes that so-called supercredits can be used to off-set the limits. “Unlimited supercredits could allow the manufacture of electric cars for which there is little or no demand, while allowing just as many polluting vehicles as before on to the roads,” campaigners against supercredits told Reuters.
According to the wire, “Germany has been pushing for months for greater flexibility in implementing an emissions goal of 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g/km) as an average across new EU vehicles from 2020. But votes in the European Parliament so far have backed a fairly robust version of the European Commission’s original proposal.”
Supercredits would allow high emission cars – provided that their makers also make very low-emission vehicles, such as electric cars.
In the U.S., EVs are often only sold in states that demand them by law. So called “quota cars” are available only in the numbers necessary to make the quota. Tesla’s profit for instance was made not by selling cars, but by selling carbon credits.
The Leaf is available in all 50 states. Teslas would be, except for the goofy dealer issue.
The 500e, for example, is clearly a quota car. Quota cars don’t sell for that reason.
This will surprise you, but some people actually want to drive an EV. Green car sales were up 30% in May vs last year, and pure EVs are up even more. They’re selling in the 10s of thousands, which is a lot more than many other nameplates.
A government bureaucrat (any government) defines the baseline from which all stupidity is measured.
Absolutely 100% correct. Bureaucrats are a far bigger disease than politicos, are responsible for keeping “secrets” from the public on “national security grounds” (read, keeping my gold-plated pension safe), and come up with the most convoluted way of addressing problems, in between coffee breaks, lunch breaks and YouTube viewing sessions.
There is no hope against these leeches, and the EU bureaucracy in particular defines stupidity as an example for all other bureaucracies to emulate. Only straight bananas allowed for sale is the classic.
The campaigners against super credits don’t realize they’re opposing an attempt to shore up the cratering carbon credit market, a creation of the Greens. Somehow, I suspect Germany’s expanded importation of American coal to replace nuclear electricity generation has something to do with the German government’s effort.
I’ve decided to make my carbon footprint as large as humanly possible.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=m-ch-fea&v=553JwT09MNk
That’s the question I’d like to ask, how can I expand my carbon footprint?
Ride your bike more. You’ll burn more calories and exhale far more CO2.
Wow, that’s right – seven billion people exhaling greenhouse gas! How soon before we have to wear mouth filters?
Don’t be silly, they much rather charge us a breath tax. That what the greenies want; make money and cut down on the population at the same time; since people will abort babies rather than pay the breath tax.
You can exchange carbon credits by giving up smoking, or holding your breath….
Don’t let me stop you. Also try a pair of mittens.
If they brought back the draft I’m sure the comments would have a different tone. Not enough skin in the game.
Even with the modifications I doubt your Chrysler can match the carbon output of a V10 Dodge Ram or Big block Chevy truck.
Bigtruck, this is what you need!
http://youtu.be/c-u1jjOzkwo
Time to re-power that 300C!
Wait until Fiatsler starts selling the SC 6.4 HEMI.
Meanwhile, eat beans. Help the cause in 2 ways.
I’m getting over 650 RWTQ. I doubt the 6.4SC will be more than 580 RWTQ.
In factory tune yes… in any case, you’re doing it right.
Does/will BMW get credit for the i3/i8 with range extenders? And those sold around the world or just in the EU?
Cuz the i3 with range extender looks pretty interesting…
“Unlimited supercredits could allow the manufacture of electric cars for which there is little or no demand.”
Do they really think that manufacturers will build cars that they cannot sell? That they’ll just scrap those expensive EVs? I don’t think so. They’ll only build what they can sell.
However, the part that says “while allowing just as many polluting vehicles as before on to the roads” is closer to the truth thanks to the supercredits.
the way supercredits work is that they sell one EV at a loss, and gain permission to sell 100 or so profitable gas guzzlers.
they pretend one EV (and even if electricity would be carbon-free, which it isn’t), makes up for more then one non-EV.
it is similar with CAFE rules and EVs etc.
why not just tax energy (and abolish income tax in return) and then everyone can drive what they think they want to do and most people would automatically buy more efficient cars they want. then we wouldn’t have all that tollroad, income tax loophole overhead etc.
But then all the lobbyists would be unemployed, so probably not
Yes, they build cars the dealers can not sell. They offer a subsidized lease for 2-3 years then dump them at auction for a massive loss.
A 3 year lease on a Leaf is only $9k. Do you think Nissan is going to get $27k for these lease returns at auction? No, they will lose at least $10k on every single car.
The buyout on my Leaf’s lease is $18k after 3 years. If I want to keep it then, I won’t be offering that amount because I know Nissan has nowhere else to go with it.
You are not including the $7500 they are getting from the federal govt and any they may get from state govts ($3K in CA). So they are not going to do that bad.