Toyota used up all its EV tax credits on hybrids | Hacker News Reader

Toyota used up all its EV tax credits on hybrids

techcrunch.com

25 pointsthesecretceo9 comments

I’ve been trying to get a RAV4 prime for months but they are impossible to find. People literally fly across the country to try and snag them from dealers.

Dealers are often charging 5-7k over MSRP and using the tax credit as justification, telling buyers that it evens out in the end. Good grief.

I got one. It's an awesome suv.

What state? And did you have have to pay over msrp?

California. Yes, somewhat over MSRP (since I wanted the vehicle and the price was ok). I've driven 5k miles in one year, consuming 20 gallons (I learned how to drive far on battery). Also got a $7500 credit on tax.

What's really crazy is how fast sport mode is- beats any gas engine I've driver. 0-60 in 6 seconds.

People are flying across the country to buy a car which produces less carbon ... there's some things you just can't stop thinking about.

It probably makes financial sense too. Several hundred dollars on the flight vs several hundred dollars a month at the gas pump.

People will do this for any sought-after car, there doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason for it. I've seen folks flying out to pay $7k over markup for a GR86 just to drive it 600 miles home.

Can confirm. Traveled pretty far to get my last car. All the dealers in my area had $15-20k markups, but I found one at MSRP REAL far away

> to buy a car which produces less carbon

Even if carbon reduction were the only reason to buy the car, this would probably still make sense. If you're able to use it nearly 100% as an EV (which most people can do), and your home energy is renewable, then you're going to reduce your carbon footprint.

But the reality is that most people are buying it for convenience and/or novelty, not reducing carbon.

I own one and am fully aware that the car can't become carbon negative until well into its lifespan just because of the carbon required to produce its battery. The most eco-friendly purchase for us would've been... not buying a car at all.

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