Re: 150 mpg Hybrid

Revenues are stagnant now becaused of fixed rather than indexed per
gallon taxes in most jurisdictions. Declining revenues based on
petroleum are likely in any case. The speed of the descent will be
controlled by many factors, including affordability and acceptance of
hybrid or alt fuel vehicles, improvements in fleet MPG,
etc.
Hydrogen and ethanol can be taxed at the pump as is now. Electricity
is a more slippery bugger. Battery swaps or high energy recharges can
be taxed. Home recharges, not so easy except as part of the usual
utility taxes, which aren't currently recaptured by most state or
federal road funds. Mileage based schemes can work but there is some
opposition to the concept based on privacy concerns.

This is an odd position for a libertarian like myself, but for the services
the government does provide, like roads and transit, I think we should
eliminate all useage fees like gasoline taxes and transit fares and replace
it with income tax and reducing government spending in other areas. It's
tempting to levy massive taxes on gasonline becuase the demand is relatively
inelastic but the problem is a carpetlayer driving his cargo van to a job
site pays more than a CEO driving his beemer to his 7 figure job downtown.


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