Frank, The total subsidies
Frank,
The total subsidies given to fossil fuels in the form of underwriting, foreign wars, etc. completely swamps all the subsidies given to electric vehicle incentives, solar cells, and windfarms. If we gave them exactly equal subsidies, the EV would be getting closer to $15,000 tax rebate, and would cost significantly less.
Look up comparisons of Federal subsidies: 25.8% of a $13.8B goes into subsidizing petroleum. I can't post the links.
As to your note that the subsidy will end some day & where will the PEVs be then, the answer is "it depends". Mainly on two things: what will the price of gas be then? and how much EV infrastructer (that we are subsidizing the construction of right now) will be built by then? I think 10 years from now, we could be hearing arguments to remove the subsidy based on its lack of need....which would be a good thing. Long term subsidies don't make sense and breed inefficiency.
The prius didn't need new infrastructure that hasn't been built yet....which the PEVs do. So, yeah, subsidize the building and the purchasing until the fire is going, then walk away. One last note on the Prius, I am pretty sure there were subsidies that were state based in CA, AZ, NM?, so it benefited from subsidies. Another note, the Prius and all so hot for the amount of $$$ put into it. I have plans to convert an old Subaru to hybrid Electric from Mother Jones circa 1974. Their vehicle got +75MPG. Seems like the Prius should be able to do better, but I'm just an electrical engineer....so what do I know?
-Joshua