Alterna Fuels

Q: I read a story quoting Honda officials saying they would be introducing a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in a few years. Interesting, since so far as I know there are almost no fueling stations in this country. True? A: There are, in fact, fewer than 100 in this country, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Honda expects the number to increase over time, of course, and there’s a good chance it will. I’m not sure if you’re interested in such a vehicle when it rolls out, but you can easily monitor the growth of stations. The Department of Energy keeps a regularly updated state-by-state listing of all of the various kinds of alternative fuel stations, including biodiesel, diesel and, of course, hydrogen. Find that list at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/stations_counts.html. Interestingly, you will discover that there are nearly 10,000 electric fueling stations and nearly 26,000 outlets; just two or three years ago they were practically nonexistent. Q: Our daughter is talking about getting a new electric car. Do they still qualify for tax credits, or is that enticement over? A: There are still tax credit incentives, and they’re not insignificant. For example, for the 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV and the Ford Focus EV (both electric vehicles), the tax credit is $7,500. There are also incentives for plug-in hybrids: the Chevy Volt tax credit is $7,500; the Toyota Prius tax credit is $2,500. You can easily find the numbers for all the vehicles she’s looking at. Go to fueleconomy.gov. On the website there’s a Tax Incentives Information Center. Go there and you’ll find not only the tax credit amounts for all electric or plug in hybrid vehicles, you’ll find info on the requirements and how to claim the credit. She should also look into her state’s possible tax credit if she makes the buy. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have some form of incentive for purchasing these kinds of vehicles, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Maybe it’s free travel in the HOV lane; in many cases it’s a state tax incentive. In South Carolina, for example, anyone who buys such a vehicle and qualifies for a federal tax credit gets from that state a state tax credit equaling 20 percent of the federal credit. What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.