dlaw

How PHEVs and EVs Will Sabotage America's Drive for Energy Independence

Whether or not the OP has a conflict of interest, he's an informed commenter on the subject.

Leaving that aside and quite apart from fundamental arguments about electric vehicles, the problem with the OP's argument is that he doesn't really don't make it.

To actually make the argument, the OP has to demonstrate that marginal dollars into PHEVs and EVs WOULD OTHERWISE BE INVESTED in boosting sales and production of efficient vehicles.

Given the highly negative reaction to the CARS program in the financial media, I'd say that's a long shot. It's reasonably clear to me that the reasonable, efficient and timely alternative to inefficient, individual, combustion vehicles has to focus on investment in and rethinking of "mass transit" systems from the ground up, emphasizing - but by no means limited to - wire-electrified vehicles.

Make wire-electrified transport in particular and "mass" transit in general more efficient and you get the biggest bang for the buck. It's just the low-hanging fruit for efficient subsidy.

After that, we have to talk mileage regulations. There's no particular reason to subsidize what you can make necessary by regulation.