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US Congress lets $8,000 hydrogen vehicle tax credit expire

When Toyota introduced the 2016 Mirai last month in preparation for a launch late next year, it said that the hydrogen car will have a $57,500 MSRP and that there will be a federal tax credit available worth up to $8,000. The problem, as we noted at the time, is that that federal credit was set to expire at the end of 2014. The technical language of the current rule says that someone who buys a fuel cell vehicle, "may claim a credit for the certified amount for a fuel cell vehicle if it is placed in service by the taxpayer after Dec. 31, 2005, and is purchased on or before Dec. 31, 2014." With the 113th Congress now finished up for the year and legislators headed home for the holidays, we know one thing for certain: the federal tax credit for hydrogen vehicles was not updated and will end as we're all singing Auld Lang Syne next week. All of this isn't to say that Mirai buyers won't be able to take $8,000 off the price of the car 12 months from now. For proof of that, we only need to look at other alternative fuel tax incentives and realize that this Congress simply isn't moving fast enough to deal with things that are expiring right now. One of the last things that the 113th Congress did in December was to take up the tax credits that expired at the end of 2013 and renew some of them. Jay Friedland, Plug In America's senior policy advisor, told AutoblogGreen that PIA and other likeminded organizations worked with Congress to extended the electronic vehicle charging station (technically: EVSE) tax credit that was part of the Alternative Refueling Tax Credit in IRS Section 30(C) through the end of 2014. "Individuals can deduct 30 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing an EVSE up to $1,000; businesses, 30 percent up to $30,000," he said. "This tax credit is applied to any system placed into service by 12/31/14 and is retroactive to the beginning of the year. So go out and buy your favorite EV driver an EVSE for the holidays," he said. An electric motorcycle credit was killed at the last minute as Congress was getting ready to leave, but H.R. 5771 did extend the Alternative Fuels Excise Tax Credits for liquefied hydrogen and other alternative fuels. These sorts of tax credit battles happen all year long. In July, Blumenthal introduced the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Infrastructure Act of 2014, which never got out of the Finance Committee. Back to the hydrogen vehicle situation.

2016 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab revealed along with more details

The Toyota Tacoma stepped behind the curtain for a makeover, and has emerged for 2016 with an appearance both chunky and menacing, plus lots of new tech and features. We've already seen its exterior, but some details we didn't get are that there will be a new locking tailgate that can lower itself slowly, without slamming, an available tri-fold hard tonneau, and four new wheel designs. Supporting that will be a stiffer frame with more high-strength steel and additional hot-stamped, ultra-high-strength steel in a lighter bodyshell. Engines will come in two flavors, either the carryover 2.7-liter four-cylinder or a brand new 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 that utilizes both direct and port fuel injection. The four-pot only can only be had with a six-speed automatic transmission - one extra gear than before - with electronic shifting, the sixer can be specified with that or a six-speed manual. We haven't been given numbers yet, but Toyota says the new truck is "more powerful and fuel efficient," meaning we expect a raise on the 236 horsepower of the current 4.0-liter V6. The dash is laid out with a driver-focused "handlebar" theme, finished with soft materials and metallic accents. Tech options include push-button start, Qi wireless charging, a Multi-Terrain Select system, and blind-spot detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, while luxury is attended to with a power moonroof and leather-trimmed seats. To aid the ambiance, engineers improved the seals, added an acoustic windshield, a sound-absorbing headliner and a floor silencer pad to make the cabin quieter. The suspension has also been retuned to deliver a smoother ride and provide more travel. One neat convenience touch: a GoPro mount next to the rear-view mirror. Five trims will be offered when it goes on sale: SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. Before then, there's a press release below with more information, and we'll soon have live pictures from the Detroit Auto Show floor. DOMINATE DIRT...OR ROCKS...OR PAVEMENT IN THE ALL-NEW 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA - Toyota Tacoma Rebuilt Inside and Out - New Engine, Transmissions and Suspension Tuning - Legendary TRD Off-road Toughness - Best-selling Mid-Size Pickup for 10 Straight Years - Designed, Engineered and Assembled in North America DETROIT, January 12, 2015 - - Whatever the terrain, Tacoma is king of the hill.

Honda, Subaru airlifting parts to bypass port labor diputes

It should be abundantly obvious that a vital element in building cars is actually having the components on hand to assemble them. A labor dispute on the West Coast between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and management is not making that quite so easy for some Japanese automakers. Work slowdowns at the ports have pushed Honda and Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries into flying some parts into the country. The two automakers began shipping by airplane late last month to avoid production delays, according to Bloomberg, but it has been an expensive solution. Subaru's chief financial officer said the decision cost around $60 million more per month than sending components by cargo ship. They aren't the only companies dealing with the problem, either. Toyota reportedly stopped overtime assembly at some of its factories here because of the delays in getting parts, according to Bloomberg. The dockworkers have been negotiating on a new contract since May 2014, and the current offer on the table to them has offered a 3 percent raise, according to Bloomberg. Although, the union is reportedly considering another slowdown at 29 ports along the West Coast in the coming days. News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Nick Ut / AP Photo Auto News UAW/Unions Honda Subaru Toyota shipping port labor dispute