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The Economist article fails to mention that electrical vehicles are massively subsidized by governments. The production and adoption of electrical vehicles woul

The Economist article fails to mention that electrical vehicles are massively subsidized by governments. The production and adoption of electrical vehicles would not exist, but for these http://dailycaller.com/2015/08/10/tesla-is-hemorrhaging-money-despite-millions-in-govt-subsidies/ http://dailycaller.com/2015/08/10/tesla-is-hemorrhaging-mone... subsidies. As an honest observer, the natural market forces that would influence a rational decision to adopt electrical vehicles, do not exist. The true cost of electrical vehicles for transportation far exceeds that of the internal combustion, for motive power. I will stipulate to the fact that electrical vehicles are more efficient. But efficiency doesn't equate to "less expensive."

philosopherlawr 9y ago
The subsidies you bring up to justify your argument do exist. But they also exist in greater numbers for the gas/car manufacturers, so your argument that market forces would make electric cars untenable is very questionable. https://electrek.co/2016/10/10/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-challenges-big-coal-toe-to-toe-without-subsidies-after-called-fraud/ https://electrek.co/2016/10/10/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-challenge...
- SoMisanthrope 9y ago
  I disagree, due to the not-so-coincidental timing of the introduction of hybrids and all-electrics, to coincide with augmentation of the CAFE standard, implementation of incentives for production and consumer purchase of said vehicles, etc etc. Where it not for the push and pull of incentives and regulatory pressure, they simply would not be on the road, today.
madengr 9y ago
They also fail to mention how much the federal government subsidizes oil. One benefit of driving an EV is not funding the Middle East.
- SoMisanthrope 9y ago
  The federal government does not directly subsidize fossil fuel production, distribution or consumption. The government allows for losses, due to failed exploration. Not every well that you drill, brings in oil; or brings in sufficient oil to make that endeavor profitable. Any cost-offsets are in place to help ease the pain of failed wells.
  - madengr 9y ago
    So the $7,500 tax credit for an EV buyer is a subsidy? Yet the tax write-off for a failed well is not a subsidy? Anyway, I think the whole idea of a tax savings classified as a subsidy is ludicrous. It's as if the federal government owns 100% of may paycheck, and the 70% they allow me to keep is then a subsidy.
SoMisanthrope 9y ago
And I get modded down, why? Because these comments do not reflect a purely progressive viewpoint? You should reconsider whom are allowed to moderate these forums.

philosopherlawr 9y ago

The subsidies you bring up to justify your argument do exist. But they also exist in greater numbers for the gas/car manufacturers, so your argument that market forces would make electric cars untenable is very questionable. https://electrek.co/2016/10/10/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-challenges-big-coal-toe-to-toe-without-subsidies-after-called-fraud/ https://electrek.co/2016/10/10/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-challenge...

SoMisanthrope 9y ago
I disagree, due to the not-so-coincidental timing of the introduction of hybrids and all-electrics, to coincide with augmentation of the CAFE standard, implementation of incentives for production and consumer purchase of said vehicles, etc etc. Where it not for the push and pull of incentives and regulatory pressure, they simply would not be on the road, today.

madengr 9y ago

They also fail to mention how much the federal government subsidizes oil. One benefit of driving an EV is not funding the Middle East.

SoMisanthrope 9y ago
The federal government does not directly subsidize fossil fuel production, distribution or consumption. The government allows for losses, due to failed exploration. Not every well that you drill, brings in oil; or brings in sufficient oil to make that endeavor profitable. Any cost-offsets are in place to help ease the pain of failed wells.
- madengr 9y ago
  So the $7,500 tax credit for an EV buyer is a subsidy? Yet the tax write-off for a failed well is not a subsidy? Anyway, I think the whole idea of a tax savings classified as a subsidy is ludicrous. It's as if the federal government owns 100% of may paycheck, and the 70% they allow me to keep is then a subsidy.

SoMisanthrope 9y ago

And I get modded down, why? Because these comments do not reflect a purely progressive viewpoint? You should reconsider whom are allowed to moderate these forums.