NationStates Jolt Archive

Mass. Lawmakers Eye Bill for Hybrid Cars
Associated Press Tue Sep 27
BOSTON - As fuel prices soar and drivers search for ways to save money, lawmakers are pushing a bill they say would make Massachusetts a national leader in the drive to ease dependence on gasoline.

The bill, which could come up for a vote in the Senate as soon as Thursday, would reward drivers who buy hybrid or alternative fuel cars with tax breaks, free transponders to get through tolls quicker and open access to HOV lanes.

The bill also would require that at least half of the state's fleet of vehicles run on alternative fuels by 2010, and establish an Alternative Fuels Institute at the University of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts is already ninth in the nation in the number of hybrid cars on the road, according to Republican Sen. Bruce Tarr, the bill's author.

We've already got that in California, tax breaks for hybrids. Kudos anyway, though.

A. Link please (although I'll probably find it on Boston.com)
B. Probably specify that it is State Senetor Tar.

Oh and this is a definite good thing. I certainly enjoy living here right outside Boston.

How about price breaks on those cars? They're way to expensive for a lot of people to buy, currently.

Good on him.

That reminds of Bush asking Americans to, just maybe, if they could, but only if they're okay with it...to maybe...cut back on their car use?

Was on the news yesterday. Maybe he should get the people that managed to convince everyone that Iraq could kill the US in 30 minutes, and use them for good for a change. ;)

A. Link please (although I'll probably find it on Boston.com)
B. Probably specify that it is State Senetor Tar.

Oh and this is a definite good thing. I certainly enjoy living here right outside Boston.

Link (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/09/27/mass_lawmakers_eye_bill_for_hybrid_cars/)

Link (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/09/27/mass_lawmakers_eye_bill_for_hybrid_cars/)
thx

thx

Heh, I read about it in the actual newspaper this morning.

This is terrible! More people dying because they think that hybrids are all that. They aren't They're dangerous. Thousands of volts of electricity running through your car in an accident is not a good thing. And on top of that, the gas savings don't cover the extra cost of the car.

This is terrible! More people dying because they think that hybrids are all that. They aren't They're dangerous. Thousands of volts of electricity running through your car in an accident is not a good thing. And on top of that, the gas savings don't cover the extra cost of the car.

Yes, much more hazardous than flammable gasoline. :p

This is terrible! More people dying because they think that hybrids are all that. They aren't They're dangerous. Thousands of volts of electricity running through your car in an accident is not a good thing. And on top of that, the gas savings don't cover the extra cost of the car.
http://www.pfmmag.com/JulyAugust2004/Julyaugusthybridpolicecars.htm
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/12679349.htm
http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/april2002/collision.cfm

Pay attention to the safety features.
Accept it, cars will be powered with hybrid engines in the future - including Porsches.

And on top of that, the gas savings don't cover the extra cost of the car.If enough of them are built...the price will go down...

so the Tax Breaks are only needed to jump start the trend...

This is terrible! More people dying because they think that hybrids are all that. They aren't They're dangerous. Thousands of volts of electricity running through your car in an accident is not a good thing. And on top of that, the gas savings don't cover the extra cost of the car.
That's the stupidest thing I've seen posted on this forum since Jesussaves. And that was a parody...

Definately a start--though too little and too late.

Maybe sparkbomb works for the oil companies :p

Definately a start--though too little and too late.

Well that depends. Mass's environment isn't COMPLETELY destroyed yet. Definitely a step in the right direction. Although, if we see car sales go up in Boston (the city itself), I shudder to think of the traffic situations on the street and even, as a result, crowdedness of the subway...Man, I love the 57 bus. I hope it doesn't go away.

Well that depends. Mass's environment isn't COMPLETELY destroyed yet. Definitely a step in the right direction. Although, if we see car sales go up in Boston (the city itself), I shudder to think of the traffic situations on the street and even, as a result, crowdedness of the subway...Man, I love the 57 bus. I hope it doesn't go away.I think the new policy will help replace old cars.

Weren't the northeast States kicking around their own version of Kyoto?

Northeast states aim to cut carbon emissions
Agreement follows Bush’s decision not to join Kyoto protocol (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9058665/)

Well that depends. Mass's environment isn't COMPLETELY destroyed yet. Definitely a step in the right direction. Although, if we see car sales go up in Boston (the city itself), I shudder to think of the traffic situations on the street and even, as a result, crowdedness of the subway...Man, I love the 57 bus. I hope it doesn't go away.

Car sales won't go up in the city. The same people who think it's stupid to own a car in a city with one of the best public transportation systems available will still think it's stupid to own a hybrid car in a city with one of the best public transportation systems available. It's aimed at the people who drive Expeditions and Suburbans and Hummers up and down Comm Ave, and all the people who take their 5 mpg Excursions on the Pike into Boston every day.

There are already tax-breaks for buying hybrid cars. Though I am waiting for people to realize the use of Biodiesel currently.

Oh, and this is very interesting.

http://www.mindfully.org/Energy/2003/Anything-Into-Oil1may03.htm

Car sales won't go up in the city. The same people who think it's stupid to own a car in a city with one of the best public transportation systems available will still think it's stupid to own a hybrid car in a city with one of the best public transportation systems available. It's aimed at the people who drive Expeditions and Suburbans and Hummers up and down Comm Ave, and all the people who take their 5 mpg Excursions on the Pike into Boston every day.

Yeah, I've heard that boston tried to build a better highway system then fucked it up?

Though I am waiting for people to realize the use of Biodiesel currently.

I've ridden in a car running on biodiesel ... it smelled like old french fries. *blech*

Really? To me it smelled like Canola, which actually smells kind of nice.

Really? To me it smelled like Canola, which actually smells kind of nice.
Depends on where you get the oil.

I've wondered why hybrids are using reciprocating engines still. They would get much better fuel economy if they were gas turbines that ran at a constant speed (when running to charge the battery), and the car itself ran on electric.

Substantially more efficient.

Really? To me it smelled like Canola, which actually smells kind of nice.
hmmm canola. :D

Car sales won't go up in the city. The same people who think it's stupid to own a car in a city with one of the best public transportation systems available will still think it's stupid to own a hybrid car in a city with one of the best public transportation systems available. It's aimed at the people who drive Expeditions and Suburbans and Hummers up and down Comm Ave, and all the people who take their 5 mpg Excursions on the Pike into Boston every day.

The public transportation is pretty good, however busses tend not to come when you want them to...and they seriously have to repair some of the little ticker things. I missed an appointment today and had to reschedule a week and a half cause the ticker thingy said 60 bus and it was a 65...and I can't be expected to hear its another bus line over my music! The new busses with low emissions are good though. And I would have made it if the Green line went more than like...2mph.

Yeah a lot of those people on like the pike and the expressway (which by 7 AM is really heavy traffic south of 128) really need lower emissions. I mean commuting into boston is hell...although I must say it takes like 10 minutes to get to the pike exit nearest me driving when commuting in...two of the intersections (that happen to be just across the river and connected by a bridge) are hell...Watertown Square...and getting on at the Sheraton is a hassle as well.