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Hybrid Owners Get Their Own Lobbyists

Massachusetts Think Tank Forms Hybrid Owners Association

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 18, 2006

• Tax Credits On Ford Hybrids Phasing Out • Small Car Market Faces Potentially Large Problems • Ford Plans Car That Parks Itself • Drivers Wanted: Mini Developing Electric Model • GM Invests In Electric Car Engine Plant • GM Increasingly Viewed As "Green" By Online Consumers • Honda Plans New Hybrid for Earth Day 2009 • Hybrid Technology a Presidential Campaign Issue --- • More ...

Lobbying Congress is as American as apple pie or -- better yet -- cruising around town in a big-bore Corvette on a hot summer Saturday night, and now the hybrid owners of America have their very own lobbying group and are cruising off to lobby Congress.

After all, there are future tax breaks to be snorted and snuffled on Capitol Hill.

Hybrid owners already have a fistful of tax credits, access to car pool lanes and free parking in some places. So in keeping with the spirit of American politics that you never have enough tax loopholes, the hybrid owners will now have their own lobbying group in Washington.

The new group plan to "advocate for the interests of the more than half a million Americans who already own hybrid gas-electric cars and other vehicles."

Hybrid Owners of America spokeswoman Ailis Aaron Wolf promised the group will be independent from the auto industry.

"Hybrid Owners of America will strive to be a true voice for owners of gas-electric hybrid cars and other highly fuel-efficient vehicles," she said. "HOA will track and defend existing hybrid purchase incentives as well as advocating for new incentive arrangements."

While it may be independent of the auto industry, the new organization is not exactly a grass-roots coalition that just happened to coalesce around the gas pump one day.

It is supported by the Civil Society Institute (CSI), a Newton, Mass-based organization that says it serves as a "catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business."

CSI said it has conducted "nearly a dozen" major surveys since 2003 on energy issues, including global warming, renewable energy and vehicle fuel-efficiency standards. CSI said it has no direct or indirect ties to hybrid automakers, hybrid technology designers or manufacturers, or any other auto-related companies or other similar companies or trade groups.

Other than that, the group's Web site provides no information about its funding or officers.

The organization says its activities will include tracking federal, state, local and private sector incentives available for hybrid car and SUV owners and they peddle their own five point plan and "hybrid friendly" agenda:

• lifting the current cap on the federal tax break for hybrid purchases;

• creating a new federal tax incentive for those who undertake a plug-in hybrid conversion;

• promoting a new federal tax break for corporations that provide direct incentives to employees who buy hybrids;

• rewarding U.S. automakers that undertake more hybrid research and production with assistance in dealing with health care and other high-cost issues;

• conversion of 30 percent of the federal car and truck fleet over three years to hybrids.

A handful of large major companies also are offering perks to hybrid owners. For the past year, Google has offered employees $5,000 if they purchase a hybrid that gets at least 45 miles to the gallon. Bank of America Corp. said in June it will reimburse $3,000 to 21,000 eligible employees who buy any new hybrid vehicle.

In forming their lobbying group, hybrid owners are stealing a page from the SUV Owners of America, which has an established lobbying presence in Washington. However, with only 500,000 hybrids, they are vastly outnumbered on U.S. roads by 31.5 million SUVs, at least for now.

Ron DeFore of the SUV Owners of America, said his organization opposes special perks for hybrid owners. "We're not against hybrids. We just think all of the benefits for hybrid owners discriminate against people who want to drive SUVs." he said.

The Hybrid Owners of America beg to differ.

"Everybody wins when there are more hybrid vehicles on the road,” insisted hybrid advocate Scott Stapf. “The bottom line is that hybrid vehicle purchases should be encouraged because they empower typical Americans with a direct way to reduce our nation's addiction to Middle Eastern oil, save money at the gas pump and cut global warming pollution.”

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