Why Added Federal Tax Incentives For EVs Are Ridiculous In 2021

We examine the reasons why renewed federal tax incentives for EVs are no longer needed.

The idea behind using federal tax reduction incentives to spur green vehicle sales and production for the US market had merit when it was introduced decades ago. The general goals were to make the pricey cars more attainable for mainstream buyers and give automakers some time to reduce the cost of extremely expensive EV battery technology. It’s easy to say both goals have been achieved. Here's our look at why adding more federal EV tax incentives is ridiculous given today's American car market.

Are Affordable Electric Vehicles Available Now Without New Federal Tax Incentives?
There is no doubt that electric vehicles are now available to the masses at a very affordable cost to the consumer. The Chevy Bolt no longer qualifies for federal tax incentives, GM being among the first automakers having reached its maximum volume for them to apply. Why would GM need new tax incentive support to provide a low-cost entry electric vehicle with class-leading range? The current Chevy Bolt is available in all US markets and it presently sells for less than $20K in its LT trim. After state incentives like those in Massachusetts, buyers can take home a new Bolt for as little as $17,500. There is no equivalent gasoline-powered vehicle in the Bolt’s class that costs less.

The Nissan Leaf Plus is also available for a cost to the consumer with current EV incentives for near $20K. The base Leaf has a price after existing state and federal rebates in Massachusetts of $14,990 (NEW, not used!). These are cars that reviewers find much to like about, at prices already less than similar gasoline-powered cars. Those who want more choices can look for a Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Ioniq EV, both of which also are priced in the low $20Ks.

Related Story: Republicans Include Electric Vehicle Tax Benefit In New Tax Law

Those shoppers for whom an at-home charger is not available can choose multiple plug-in hybrid-electric options with prices in the low $20Ks. The Prius Prime and Hyundai Ioniq PHEV are easy-to-name examples. Both have costs in the low $20Ks today.

Without any changes to the current tax incentives, there are at least five brands offering low-cost to the consumer electric vehicles. Why are new tax incentives needed to cover this end of the marketplace?

Many Brands Are Going Electric Anyway
Well over a year ago, GM’s President stood at a podium and announced that “GM’s all-electric future was now.” He went on to elaborate on how GM had already made the decision to shift to all-electric vehicles and then detailed all of the plans for new and repurposed factories GM was building. By all reports, those plans are ahead of schedule. GM announced a refreshed Bolt this past month and added a Bolt EUV with more room for family buyers. Up next will be EV SUVs and trucks from Hummer and also GM’s own brands. If GM is selling low-cost EVs now and already has committed to going all-EV in the immediate future, why does GM need a tax incentive change in 2021?

GM is not alone. Jaguar has announced that by mid-decade, just four years from today, Jaguar will only offer battery-electric vehicles. Today, its excellent I-PACE is not just a great Jaguar EV, but a great Jaguar. It was the template from which Tesla and Ford built the Model Y and Mach-E.

Rivian is planning to launch its R1T all-electric truck in June. Rivian is doing so with or without any changes to the federal tax code. The company will already enjoy a decade of huge tax incentives from the current EV tax law. Aptera, Lucid, Bollinger, Fisker, and others are all also planning to launch all-electric vehicles this year and all of them will already have massive tax incentives under the current tax code that will last many years.

States Are Planing to Mandate All Vehicles Be Electric - Will ALL Cars Have Big Tax Breaks?
One by one, the US states are setting expiration dates for internal combustion-powered vehicles. If the states are going to make all cars EVs, then why do we need to add tax incentives? Why do the automakers need this corporate welfare if Tesla has already shown that building EVs can boost stock prices and be done profitably?

States Are Throwing Support Behind EVs
Although lower carbon emission levels from vehicles is a good thing, air pollution is mostly local. So why don't states with local air pollution problems support EVs with price supports? In fact, they do. California has for over a decade, many other states such as Massachusetts offer thousands in EV incentives and in New York, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy's bill recently introduced legislation (bill A.4761 ) to provide a $35,000 EV tax incentive. You read that right. A tax incentive worth 50% more than affordable EVs actually cost.

Why Do Sold-Out Electric Vehicles Need Additional Incentives?
The three hottest electric vehicles in America today are the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and the Toyota RAV4 Prime. All sell out before they arrive on the delivery lot. There is no inventory and buyers cannot get enough of these crossovers priced from the mid $30Ks to the $60K range. Why do EVs need added incentives if the ones that are being launched today and over the past year are selling out?

Why Do EVs That Sell Above Sticker Price Need Tax Incentives?
Many buyers are finding dealer markups above MSRP for the RAV4 Prime. Mustang Mach-E buyers have posted window stickers with $10K markups. Why do vehicles in such high demand that shoppers will pay over sticker prices for them need added tax code support?

Tesla sells every vehicle it produces in America and has never suffered from excess inventory. Discounts on Tesla vehicles are so rare it is big news when they are offered. Tesla, Toyota, and Ford all have customer waiting lists for their EVs spanning months. Why do automakers with waiting lists for EVs need more help?

Should American Tax Dollars Subsidize Imported Electric Vehicles?
Will American unions cheer for extended incentives on vehicles that automakers build in low-cost labor markets outside of America? The Mustang Mach-E is imported from Mexico. Jaguar’s I-PACE, the Toyota RAV4 Prime, all of Kia and Hyundai’s EVs, and Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV are all built exclusively outside of America. The PoleStar 2 is imported from China. Why should Americans directly subsidize the profits of automakers who opt not to use American labor to build EVs?

Should Americans Subsidize Performance Vehicles?
Tesla and Ford presently sell electric performance electric vehicles in the US. Tesla's most recent update to the model line is an ultra-high-performance variant of its $130K Model S. One of its upcoming cars is a supercar Roadster Tesla says will be capable of a sprint to 60 MPH faster than any other car. There is no “need” to go 0-60 MPH in under 2 seconds. It is almost impossible to find a place in America where it is legal to do so. Should the American tax code be altered to boost the profits of automakers for the further development of pricey electric performance vehicles?

Related Story: About Two-Thirds Of Electric Vehicle Tax Credits In 2018 Went to Luxury Car Buyers - Over Half Went To Tesla Buyers

Should Luxury-Priced EVs Be Subsidized By New Taxpayer Incentives?
The current tax code allows millionaires and billionaires to enjoy tax breaks when they buy pricey EVs. When the Rivian and Lucid products arrive, they will not offer any family vehicles priced below $40K. These will all be high-performance luxury vehicles and they will all come with a $7,500 federal tax incentive for the well-heeled buyers who will proudly display their commitment to stopping climate change by driving a fancy luxury EV. With such examples of the way the good intentions that EV tax incentives have gone off the rails, do we really need more such incentives for a longer period of time?

New changes to the current tax code that subsidizes EVs will primarily impact two automakers. They are Tesla and GM. Tesla already sells every EV it makes at a profit (if its SEC filings are to be believed) and has the largest stock valuation of any global automaker. In anticipation of the coming tax incentive changes, Tesla increased its prices by up to $10,000 this week. GM is planning huge, massively powered vehicles for wealthy individuals. Why do these two automakers need changes to the tax code in order to succeed?

Since low-cost family EVs are already being sold with a sub-$20K cost to budget shoppers, why are changes needed to the tax code to "help EVs?" Feel free to offer your opinions in the comments below.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. Following his engineering program, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin