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Tesla Proves To Be Too Pricey For Germany, Loses Tax Subsidies (reuters.com)
Tesla has been removed from Germany's list of electric cars eligible for subsidies because its Model S sedan is too expensive for the scheme. Tesla customers cannot order the Model S base version without extra features that pushed the car above the 60,000 euro ($71,500) price limit, a spokesman for the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Controls (BAFA) said on Friday. From the report: Germany last year launched the incentive scheme worth about 1 billion euros, partly financed by the German car industry, to boost electric car usage. A price cap was included to exempt premium models. "This is a completely false accusation. Anyone in Germany can order a Tesla Model S base version without the comfort package, and we have delivered such cars to customers," Tesla said in a statement. The carmaker said the upper price limit was initially set by the German government to exclude Tesla, but later a compromise was reached "that allows Tesla to sell a low option vehicle that qualifies for the incentive and customers can subsequently upgrade if they wish." It said, however, it would investigate whether any car buyers were denied the no-frills version. Under the subsidy scheme, buyers get 4,000 euros off their all-electric vehicle purchase and 3,000 euros off plug-in hybrids.
for example, on the Leaf you have to rent the battery - it isn't included in the car price and you can not buy it for any money
As a (used) Leaf owner, I can confirm that I own the whole damn car - including the battery. It has traveled over 30,000 miles while dropping 1 bar out of 12 for range. The range is still over 80 miles per charge.
It has snow tires on it for Winter driving. The Leaf warms itself up on a timer before I leave for work. I never have to stop at a gas station, and get about 40 miles per day for $1 (roughly $38 in electricity per month).
By the time that I need to purchase a new battery ($5000 at the moment) I will have saved significantly more money in gasoline alone. Outside of tires and windshield washer, maintenance is not an issue.
This is not an advertisement. My other (gasoline) cars are a Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Porsche. The bottom line is that the Leaf is the cheapest car to operate and maintain.