Government incentives are a popular (if controversial) way of getting more buyers behind the wheel of electric cars. Bring down the price, and buyers will follow.
Whatever you think of the politics behind the incentives, others are simply concerned that they aren't getting the same treatment. One of those companies is Chrysler.
With a selection of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in its range, Chrysler wants incentives extended to these vehicles too, rather than restricting them to electric cars.
"We support technology-neutral policies, and providing equivalent incentives for natural gas-powered vehicles would create parity," explained Reg Modlin, director of regulator affairs at Chrysler.
According to The Detroit News, Chrysler is worried that current incentives are creating an unlevel playing field for alternative-fuel vehicles.
The automaker naturally wants to increase demand for its own CNG vehicles, but incentives would also benefit GM, Ford and Honda, all of whom sell CNG vehicles in the U.S.
Increased demand may also spur companies into improving upon the current low availablility of CNG. Around 1,000 fuel stations currently sell the gas, for the 200,000 bi-fuel and CNG vehicles currently on U.S. roads.
Many of those are commercial vehicles, buses and similar, rather than passenger vehicles. The 2012 Honda Civic GX is currently the only natural gas-powered car on sale.
Do you think government incentives should be extended to stimulate demand for CNG vehicles? Let us know in the comments section below.
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