If you have been thinking about getting a car in the next few weeks or months, let me see if I can persuade to act now through our Drive Green program before the New Year. Here are the reasons:

• We have great choices available. Chevy Volts, Nissan Leafs, Ford C-Max Energi, and Ford Fusion Energi.  The available discounts are very deep!

• Each of those cars is eligible for a BIG federal tax credit. The Volt and Leaf are eligible for up to $7500 and the Fords are eligible for up to $4011.  We say “up to” because the actual amount is limited by what your federal tax liability will be for 2016.  If you buy a car in December, you can enjoy taking advantage of that credit when you do your 2016 taxes.  Otherwise, you will have to wait until you do your 2017 taxes.  If you lease an electric car, you do not get the tax credit but dealers are offering low lease payments because they’re taking the credit and passing it on to consumers.

• If you install a Level 2 charging station for your home in December, you can take a tax credit of 30% of the cost up to $1000. These units usually cost between $500 and $1000, so save yourself some money by installing in December.  It’s a job that a licensed electrician can do in a couple of hours.  If you get a Volt or Leaf, we recommend a Level 2 charging station.  The Fords have a smaller electric battery, making Level 2 unnecessary.  More information about charging is on our Drive Green web page.

Buying or leasing an EV in 2017 is a great idea too.  But why not cash in on the tax credits sooner?  And by the way, the sooner you Drive Green, the better as far as the world is concerned!