Price Of Success: Tesla Model 3 Buyers Might Not Get Full EV Tax Credit

Price Of Success: Tesla Model 3 Buyers Might Not Get Full EV Tax Credit

7500 off the price of the vehicle. That phase-out is triggered when any automaker reaches 200,000 cumulative sales (starting in 2010) of qualifying plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles. Reaching the sales mark triggers a phase-out period in which, two calendar quarters later, buyers can still claim 50 percent of the credit for two quarters, and then 25 percent for vehicles delivered for two quarters after that. 1875 credit for the first half of 2019. Tesla vehicles wouldn鈥檛 be eligible for the credit at all after that. 28,700 (including destination)鈥攁nd that鈥檚 before state rebates or other local incentives. 7500, they鈥檒l likely get one of the phase-out amounts. No other automaker is poised to hit its phase-out period in the next year. Cumulatively, through last month, Nissan has sold 112,128 Leaf EVs, which gives it several more years at the rate that model has been selling鈥攐r at least a year or two if sales pick up.

GM has sold 145,820 qualifying plug-ins to date, of which 125,939 are Volts, according to Baum. Through June, GM had only sold about 7600 Chevrolet Bolt EVs, although some project it at about a 20,000 annual sales rate鈥攁bout on par with the Volt, or a little less. The Internal Revenue Service keeps a regularly updated page on cumulative sales on the way to 200,000, but its list only includes BMW, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz. When this page was last updated鈥攊n June, with final numbers through the first quarter of 2017鈥攁ll three of those automakers were far behind Tesla. Rest assured, you鈥檒l be able to get the EV tax credit with most other makes for a long time. There will soon be a bevy of brands with long-range electric vehicles鈥攊ncluding some automakers (Jaguar, for instance) that will be effectively starting at zero鈥攁nd those electric vehicles will qualify for the tax credit for years, barring any changes from Washington. Tesla might not see the market playing field as being level at that point, but it鈥檚 about to get interesting.

While it can鈥檛 match the V60鈥檚 level of compliance, the Avant isn鈥檛 rock solid, and it takes most roads in its stride. The A4鈥檚 gearbox isn鈥檛 as smooth at low speed and around town, because the clutches cutting in and out make manoeuvring a little more jerky and disjointed. Once under way, the shifts are quick and seamless. However, there was little to split the performance of these two cars at our test track. Both accelerated from 0-60mph in 8.1 seconds, but the Audi鈥檚 sharper-shifting transmission meant it was one tenth faster from 30 to 70mph through the gears, taking 7.1 seconds. It was also a few tenths faster in the lower ratios between 30 and 50mph, but a few tenths slower in the higher gears between 50 and 70mph, with the differences between the cars鈥?seven and eight-speed transmissions explaining this. Testers鈥?notes: 鈥淵ou can upgrade the A4鈥檚 fuel tank from 40 to 54 litres for free. There鈥檚 little to split these two cars, but while the Volvo might cost a little more to buy and run, it鈥檚 the more comfortable, more spacious and more hi-tech model.

This is what a premium family estate should deliver, and the V60 nails this convincingly. Just a few issues (it lacks some connectivity as standard, for example) hold the model back from the full five stars. The A4 Avant is an extremely competent premium and practical family wagon. It offers lots of space, enough comfort and is the better machine to drive, while quality is easily on par with the V60. Yet it can鈥檛 quite match the Volvo for usability and much of the technology that makes it so appealing is optional, even if it will be marginally cheaper to run than the Swedish car. There鈥檚 a new C-Class Estate to fight the V60 with updated infotainment and new engines. The 191bhp 2.0-litre C 220 d is well priced, at 拢38,835 in top-spec AMG Line trim. But the 460-litre boot looks small by comparison. Before the new 3 Series Touring goes on sale next year, now is a great time to pick up a deal on the outgoing car. The sweet spot is 320d M Sport auto spec. It鈥檚 even better to drive than the Audi, even if it鈥檚 slightly less practical.