Cash for golf carts

[GroundZero3]

Has anyone else heard about this?

First cash for clunkers – now free golf carts | Radio Vice Online

Quote:

In South Carolina, sales of these carts have been soaring as dealerships alert customers to Uncle Sam’s giveaway. “The Golf Cart Man” in the Villages of Lady Lake, Florida is running a banner online ad that declares: “GET A FREE GOLF CART. Or make $2,000 doing absolutely nothing!”

Golf Cart Man is referring to his offer in which you can buy the cart for $8,000, get a $5,300 tax credit off your 2009 income tax, lease it back for $100 a month for 27 months, at which point Golf Cart Man will buy back the cart for $2,000. “This means you own a free Golf Cart or made $2,000 cash doing absolutely nothing!!!” You can’t blame a guy for exploiting loopholes that Congress offers.

[MTAtech]

The article calls this a "plan." Is this effective now or is it planned?

I see a few of them used in by neighborhood. People use them to drive locally, such as the supermarket. I agree with the concept of encouraging high-mileage electric vehicles to supplant gas vehicles. I disagree that one shouldn't be limited in the number of vehicles one buys. They should also be required to register them as a vehicle, so as to prevent golf course use.

[GroundZero3]

But what streets are these permitted on? Certainly these things cant go 20-25 mph without killing the battery

[MTAtech]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroundZero3

But what streets are these permitted on? Certainly these things cant go 20-25 mph without killing the battery

In NY, you must register them with the DMV and get plates.

They can drive on all the local streets. I don't thing they can go on the highway because they can't go the minimum mph.

[Epidemic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTAtech

The article calls this a "plan." Is this effective now or is it planned?

I see a few of them used in by neighborhood. People use them to drive locally, such as the supermarket. I agree with the concept of encouraging high-mileage electric vehicles to supplant gas vehicles. I disagree that one shouldn't be limited in the number of vehicles one buys.

I don't know if these golf carts are efficient.

No regenerative breaking, no aerodynamics, questionable charging systems, and lead acid batteries that lose capacity with each charge. These vehicles are not made for mileage efficency, safety. A small car driving 2 miles at 25 mph gets terrific mileage as well.

don't try and candy coat this MTA the democrats blew it with this bill. It was an un-intended consequence for most of those who signed on to the bill and probably even an intended kickback to a special interest who bribed one of the sponsers to not close the loophole.

[MTAtech]

Epi, they are efficient because they are light and use electricity. In many places in the U.S., water power makes the electricity. I make 70% of my electricity from solar PV.

Now, it may very well not be the best use of federal tax credits but you must admit, it's better than what the Republicans did -- giving tax credits to buy $100,000 Hummers.

[RobRich]

I have been hearing about this on local radio, and would ya' believe it, the ads tend to target same community mentioned in the article: The Villages.

Quote:

The Villages is a golf cart community, with special transportation trails built for golf carts. The development includes more than forty recreation centers, over twenty executive golf courses, eight championship golf courses with country clubs, a golf academy, a polo field, three fitness centers, a woodworking shop and community garden, an archery range, and two libraries.

A golf cart overpass was built across US 27/US 441 in the center of The Villages to connect the original neighborhood to new areas because a tunnel could not be constructed to provide safe passage across this major highway. Tunnels serve this purpose throughout the rest of the community where a highway must be crossed.

Source: The Villages, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Golf carts are street legal in The Villages, which is governed as a Community Development District, so some things work a little differently there. I suppose it would make sense why a golf cart could technically be considered a vehicle, as much of the businesses and community infrastructure are within a few blocks of the residential areas. However, technical and practical can be two different things.

I am not really inclined to give golf cart owners a tax incentive. Golf carts do not have to meet similar safety standards as cars despite being legal to drive on public roads in some areas. A car has to meet certain DOT equipment and safety guidelines for road use regardless if it is driven at 5MPH or 75MPH.

Whatever standards are required for golf carts seem to be minimal at best, which can be kind of scary for all parties involved if you have ever experienced driving a car amongst a bunch of golf carts. I have driven in the The Villages, along with other golf cart communities around Florida. It is no thrill, especially if the driver of a sluggish golf cart decides to cut you off or otherwise ignore regular vehicle traffic.

[Epidemic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTAtech

Epi, they are efficient because they are light and use electricity. In many places in the U.S., water power makes the electricity. I make 70% of my electricity from solar PV.

Now, it may very well not be the best use of federal tax credits but you must admit, it's better than what the Republicans did -- giving tax credits to buy $100,000 Hummers.

How many KW would you need to recharge your commute? I think your 70% figure would drop rather quickly if you added an EV.

Every KW you take from the electric grid demands a gallon of oil even if you get power from nukes. We have a fixed amount of power generating assets in the US. If you make a large KW increase in demand off the nuke plant it does not grow. as such they reduce the number of customers served off that plant and grab energy from a conventional fossil fuel plant.

this may change over time but it is the reality of today.

Sadly I can not find a single resource that compares the MPG of a compact car at 15 to 35 mph nor can I find a mileage for any golf cart. in the end this credit will result in my buying a golf cart to drive to around my property. to replace the current toy I drive around my property.

it is cas for toys program that will be used by a few people for it's intended purpose of offsetting fossil fuel vehicle. in the end I would say more energy will be used than had these golf carts not been purchased. Since people would not have bought the toys for runnging around the back yard.




PS your defense of this stupid cash for toys program is that it is better than a plan that allowed businesses to write off work vehicles used to accomplish their daily task. I am not a fan of that program either but my guess is that more vehicles were bought to meet the needs of the business than just the vainity associated with buying a hummer. The ratio though is well beyond reversed in that most people buy golf carts as toys because they are ummmmm toys.

[Chuckiechan]

Generally, places where you can use a golf cart are upper end seniors living areas, or developments designed around golf courses.

These people have paid taxes all of their lives, and they are rich. It's nice for the liberals to give back something to the taxpayers, even accidentally.

[osprey4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTAtech

Now, it may very well not be the best use of federal tax credits but you must admit, it's better than what the Republicans did -- giving tax credits to buy $100,000 Hummers.

This is how a big-government liberal thinks. A bad idea that's not as bad as another bad idea is a good idea.

No one here supported tax credits for Hummers, it should be noted.