TO THE EDITOR:
Good to see at least one senator express that taxpayer-supported subsidies to buy electric vehicles are obviously wrong, even without the extra for union-made ones ("Expanded EV tax credit questioned by key swing vote senator," autonews.com, April 28). We all know who buys the majority of EVs and that a subsidy is just a bonus in most cases.
Larry P. Vellequette, in his column Jan. 3 ("The smarter way to cut CO2"), pointed out a much better place for a subsidy: dollars to get older, less efficient, more polluting vehicles off the road. That money would actually benefit people that need it and accomplish goals most of us see as worthwhile.
The other point that no one seems to talk about (yet) is, what will be the penalty assigned to EVs for not contributing to road repairs and other expenditures through the taxes in the price of fuels, even though there will be more fuel burned to generate the extra current needed?
No doubt that electric motor-powered vehicles have advantages over combustion engines and will be chosen as the best way once the support system for the initial charge and convenient recharging is available. I am surprised that more has not been accomplished in those areas by a lot of smart people who have been working on it for a long time.
HENRY COLEMAN, Wallingford, Conn. The writer is a retired dealer.
