[Savage_Messiah]

http://blogs.automobilemag.com/62836...aks/index.html

While GM celebrated its centennial today, Toyota was trying to crash its party on Capitol Hill, arguing to lawmakers that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt should not receive special tax consideration.

A tax package currently making its way through the Senate would provide a $7,500 rebate on plug-in hybrids with batteries rated at 6-kilowatts or more. Toyota’s Robert Wimmer said this requirement “redefines plug-in electric vehicles to seemingly eliminate consumer tax credits for all but one plug-in vehicle design.”

Toyota thinks qualifications should be relaxed to include what it calls “blended” plug-in hybrids, with batteries rated at 1.2-2.0-kilowatts. The Volt will have batteries rated at 16-kilowatts and offer an all-electric range of 40 miles. Toyota’s plug-in Prius, still in early testing, will aim for a range of about 10 miles before tapping into its gasoline engine. Of course, the better performing Volt will cost considerably more, and Toyota wants it to stay that way.

“We believe consumer incentives should encourage all plug-in designs and allow the consumer market to select winners, not legislation,” Wimmer said.