DEC 28

Energize America has long had a FeeBate incorporated into it to encourage a more rapid move toward more fuel efficient, lower polluting vehicles. Charge a sliding FEE on low mileage, high polluting vehicles and give a reBATE to high mileage, low polluting vehicles. Balance this such that the collected Fees pay a good share of the reBate costs.

Slowly, the FeeBate concept is gaining momentum around the world. Earlier this month, the French government announced a FeeBate system with the "Ecological Bonus" applying to vehicles with low CO₂ emissions. The highest bonus, 5000 Euros (roughly $7500), applies to super-low emitters, less than 60 g de CO₂/km which includes electric vehicles (especially in France, with so much of the electricity from nuclear power).

The worst offenders will pay penalties of 2500 Euros. And, the regulations are planned with a constant strengthening, with 5 g de CO₂/km reduction in each category every two years.

In terms of bonus, the following is the initial regulation:

• 1000 € for cars emitting less than 100 gCO₂/km: (Think very small car, like the Smart)
• 700 € for vehicles emitting between 101 and 120 g CO₂ ;
• 200 € for emissions between 121 and 130 g CO₂/km.

And, the penalties:

• 200 € for vehicles with emissions between 161 and 165 g CO₂/km ;
• 750 € for emissions between 166 and 200 g CO₂/km ;
• 1600 € penalty for emissions between 201 and 250 g CO₂/km (Mercedes E-class, for example) ;
• 2600 € for emissions above 250 g CO₂/km. (VW Toureg)

Trade-ins will be favored. Show up with a car over 15 years old and there is 300 € that the government will put on the table to retire the car.

Comments (6)

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written by EV, December 28, 2007

So, how does this apply to business vehicles that get the lower mileage due to towing a few tons?

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written by Garz, December 29, 2007

This tax has been debated during the "Grenelle environment forum" (http://www.legrenelle-environn...ubrique112) with the green organizations and lobbying groups. The government has stepped back and it will only be a "one time-fee", when buying a new car. Originally, it was supposed to be a yearly tax. This new tax will only raise the initial cost, and will not apply to existing cars... This is already something, but clearly not enough...

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Aarrrgghhh
written by Harry, December 29, 2007

I'm studying Environmental Studies with a Policy concentration at college right now, and this is exactly the kind of thing I want to dream up. What a good idea! I'm even envious that I didn't think of it myself.

Of course this tax isn't enough. However, it's a good idea. There won't be a magic bullet to the environmental and economic crises that we face, it's reached through many good ideas like this coalescing into a movement. People are forced to start thinking more and more about the environment when they realize that they pay extra for environmental inefficiencies. The death of cheap oil will usher in an age of resource conservation, where people may realize the extent to which they waste energy, and start living with the mindest of a 3rd world country citizen. Living in some poor countries shows you how conscious people can be of resources compared to the US. If the world can adopt a mentality like that, the problem may take care of itself, rather than strict and unpopular governmental legislation.

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Bonus rebate for really old vehicles
written by PeakVT, December 30, 2007

I really like that idea. Even fuel-efficient older vehicles are big NOx/SOx/CO/particulate emitters. It's good to get them off the road ASAP.

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written by lee, January 11, 2008

wow thats great, if they do this in the Uk ( they wont) i will have to pay
£1500 a year car insurance
£200 tax
£200 per month petrol (70% of that is tax)
£3700
just for getting to and from work, great

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A luxury, not a right
written by Stephanie, July 16, 2008

lee: hop on a bus. you talk like riding your single-passenger car into work is a basic RIGHT, and not a LUXURY. Besides the beauty of a perfect feebate is that it preserves consumer choice. You could buy a light, fuel-efficient car and get a rebate. Feebates appropriately tax unnecessarily heavy cars, which have consequences for public health. Therefore, it is a good thing the government is finally doing something. You and everybody else should have to pay for the pollutants you emit into the air - and for driving unnecessarily energy-intensive cars. It's about time the government deals with free-loaders. You should be complaining that the government didn't do this sooner, allowed suburbia to get so out of hand, and let the auto industry get away with selling things like Hummers.

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