Washington, DC, April 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genevieve Cullen, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), today issued the following statement in support of the Driving America Forward Act, introduced by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Gary Peters (D-MI). A companion measure was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05). “EDTA applauds Senators Stabenow, Alexander, Collins and Peters, as well as Congressman Kildee and the many cosponsors of the House measure, for their continued leadership in electric mobility and advancing this critical bipartisan legislation. This bill will ensure that the tax credits for electric drive vehicles continue to work to increase consumer choice and U.S. competitiveness. “Electrifying the U.S. fleet of vehicles will allow drivers to reduce their fuel costs, help to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants and enhance our energy security through fuel diversity. This legislation updates existing policies to ensure that the U.S. continues to lead in the global market for electric drive technologies. “Primarily, the legislation introduced today will increase the number of vehicles eligible for the plug-in electric drive credit by 400,000 and extend the fuel cell electric vehicle credit through December 2028. “We urge Congress to take prompt action on these measures to promote electric drive vehicles and technologies and we look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to expand smarter, cleaner electric transportation across the country.” ### About EDTA The Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is the trade association promoting battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric drive technologies and infrastructure. EDTA conducts public policy advocacy, education, industry networking, and international conferences. EDTA’s membership includes vehicle and component manufacturers, utilities, materials suppliers, charging infrastructure and technology providers and other stakeholders. For more information about EDTA and our members, visit ElectricDrive.org. For information about acquiring an electric vehicle, please visit GoElectricDrive.com.<doc-sep>U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, along with U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., have introduced the Driving America Forward Act, a bipartisan bill to expand electric vehicle (EV) and hydrogen fuel cell tax credits. Under current law, consumers can receive a tax credit of up to $7,500 if they purchase an eligible EV. After an automaker sells 200,000 qualifying vehicles, consumers are eligible to receive the full value of the $7,500 tax credit through the calendar quarter after the cap is hit. The value of the credit to consumers from this automaker then decreases to 50% and 25% over the next 12 months before being phased out entirely. The Driving America Forward Act raises the cap by allowing purchasers of an additional 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer to be eligible for a $7,000 tax credit. Consumers can receive the full value of a $7,000 credit through the calendar quarter after the 600,000th vehicle is sold. The value of the credit to consumers from this automaker then decreases to 50% before being phased out entirely after six months. The bill maintains the $7,500 tax credit for the first 200,000 units sold. Notably, the Drive America Forward Act also extends the hydrogen fuel cell credit for 10 years through 2028. “At a time when climate change is having a real effect on Michigan, today’s legislation is something we can do now to reduce emissions and combat carbon pollution,” says Stabenow. “Our bill will help create American jobs and cement Michigan’s status as an advanced manufacturing hub.” Previously, Stabenow championed the EV tax credit and the production of alternative vehicles in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. “Ten years ago, there were no mass-produced electric cars on U.S. highways, and today, there are about one million – and automakers are planning to make millions more,” notes Alexander. “The all-electric Nissan Leaf that I bought in 2011 had a hard time getting me from the Capitol to Dulles Airport and back. Its real range was about 70 miles. Today’s Nissan Leaf can travel 226 miles on one charge. “Investing in American research and technology for better electric vehicles is one way to help our country and the world deal with climate change,” he continues. “I’m glad to co-sponsor this important legislation, which will encourage even more production of electric vehicles, create good jobs and boost the economy.” “Putting more electric vehicles on the road will reduce carbon emissions and support investment in American-made manufacturing,” adds Kildee. “This legislation is a win-win when it comes to protecting our planet and growing our economy.” The legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va., Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. The Driving America Forward Act is also supported by 60 organizations, including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the American Lung Association, CALSTART, Clean Fuels Michigan, Electrify America, eMotorWerks, the Environmental Defense Fund, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Honda North America Inc., Nissan North America, Plug In America, the Sierra Club, Tesla Inc., Toyota Motor North America, and Volkswagen Group of America. “This bill will help Ford grow our electrified vehicle portfolio, which includes iconic models our customers know and love,” says Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of global operations. “Ford is investing $11 billion in electrified vehicles through 2022. Expanding the existing framework gives our U.S. plants the ability to produce smarter, fuel-efficient vehicles for years to come. It also ensures that American manufacturers can stay competitive in this new automotive era.” “As we build and grow the clean energy economy, we must continue to invest in tackling the sector that generates the most pollution: transportation,” states Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. “The nation must act urgently to protect the health of all Americans from air pollution and climate change. Reducing emissions from vehicles is a critical part of the solution,” adds Harold P. Wimmer, national president and CEO of the American Lung Association.<doc-sep>A bill has a long way to go before it becomes law, but if the new Driving America Forward Act goes into effect, it could provide an extra boost for automakers who hope federal tax incentives will further advance EV adoption. A bipartisan group of US legislators intend to introduce legislation extending the EV tax credit, Reuters reports, citing a copy of the legislation it was shown prior to its official introduction in the legislature. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Susan Collins, and Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee. The crux of the Driving America Forward Act is an extension of the federal EV tax credit. It would allow automakers to hand out $7,000 tax credits for an additional 400,000 vehicles per automaker. This would be in addition to the 200,000 vehicles eligible for $7,500 credits allotted to each automaker. The bill also shortens the phase-out period to nine months, while the current scheme has a 15-month phase-out period. Furthermore, it would extend a tax credit for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles through 2028. Enlarge Image Tesla The price tag for this bill is estimated at $11.4 billion, nearly all of which will go toward the EV tax credit extensions, according to Reuters. As with the current tax-credit scheme, it's worth noting that this is not a one-time, point-of-sale vehicle discount. Rather, it's a dollar-for-dollar reduction of a person's federal tax liability. People who do not pay that much in federal taxes will not realize the credit's full value. This could be big news for Tesla and GM, the two automakers currently in the phase-out period. Tesla's tax credit dropped to $3,750 at the beginning of 2019 and will end later this year, while GM's tax credit dropped to $3,750 on April 1. Under the new legislation, those automakers would have an extra 400,000 vehicles each that would be eligible for $7,000 tax credits. There's no guarantee that the Driving America Forward Act will become law, and in fact, legislators have also tried to kill the credit on occasion. Last October, Sen. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, sought to nix the credit and replace it with an EV tax for road repairs. Eight days later, Sen. Dean Heller, a Republican from Nevada, introduced legislation that would maintain the EV tax credit, but it would replace the quantity-based phase-out with unlimited $7,500 credits that would come to a full stop in 2022.<doc-sep>
US Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Susan Collins (R-ME) along with Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) introduced the Driving America Forward Act, bipartisan legislation to expand the electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell tax credits. Under current law, consumers may receive a tax credit of up to $7,500 if they purchase an eligible electric vehicle. However, the tax credits begin to phase out permanently once automakers sell more than 200,000 units. The Driving America Forward Act raises the cap and allows purchasers of an additional 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer to be eligible for the tax credit. Sales of electric vehicles in the US increased by more than 80% in 2018 and two manufacturers have already hit the lifetime cap of 200,000 units (GM and Tesla). Under current law, after an automaker sells 200,000 qualifying vehicles, consumers are eligible to receive the full value of the $7,500 tax credit through the calendar quarter after the cap is hit. The value of the credit to consumers from this automaker then decreases to 50% and 25% over the next 12 months before being phased out entirely. The Driving America Forward Act raises the cap by allowing purchasers of an additional 400,000 vehicles per manufacturer to be eligible for a $7,000 tax credit. Consumers can receive the full value of a $7,000 credit through the calendar quarter after the 600,000th vehicle is sold. The value of the credit to consumers from this automaker then decreases to 50% before being phased out entirely after six months. The bill maintains the $7,500 tax credit for the first 200,000 units sold. The Drive America Forward Act also extends the hydrogen fuel cell credit for ten years, through 2028. The legislation is also co-sponsored by US Representatives Don Beyer (VA-08), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03). The Driving America Forward Act is supported by 60 organizations, including ABB Inc., Advanced Energy Economy, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Alliance to Save Energy, American Lung Association, Association of Global Automakers, BMW of North America, CalStart, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, CERES, Charge Forward LLC, ChargePoint, ChargeUp Midwest, Clean Fuels Michigan, Consumers Energy, Copper Development Association, DTE, Eaton, Ecology Center, Edison Electric Institute, Electrify America, Electric Auto Association, Electric Drive Transportation Association, Electric Vehicle Charging Association, eMotorWerks, an Enel Group Company, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Law and Policy Center, EV Drive Coalition, EVgo, FCA US, Ford Motor Company, FORTH, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, General Motors Company, Greenlots, Honda North America Inc., ITC Holdings Corp., League of Conservation Voters, Lyft, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, NAFA Fleet Management Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nissan North America, Panasonic Corporation of North America, Plug In America, Rivian Automotive, LLC, Securing America’s Future Energy, SemaConnect, Siemens Corporation USA, Sierra Club, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, TE Connectivity, Tesla Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Toyota Motor North America, Union of Concerned Scientists, Volkswagen Group of America, and Volta.