BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Buying electric cars in Georgia may not come with that big tax break, if the governor has his way.
Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign a bill that would eliminate the state's electric vehicle tax credit.
Electric cars can cost upwards of $20,000 but are seen as a major investment with the savings consumers see in fuel. It's the tax incentive that often reels customers in to spend the money.
"I think I got $7,000," said hybrid car owner Catherine Miller.
Miller bought her hybrid in New York and got a bigger tax credit. Right now, Georgia allows up to a $2,500 credit for low-emission vehicles and a $5,000 credit for zero-emission vehicles. That could all go away after June 30.
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"I think they would still buy it. They're great cars; they get good gas mileage," said Miller.
Because more people are buying electric cars, legislators supporting the bill say the credits are costly to keep up. Right now they say it's costing the state $50 million a year to fund that incentive. Local taxpayers we spoke with say it's about time that credit expires.
"Should we be dependent on the government to hand us everything and show us the right way, or should we be adults that we are and be mature about the situation and say, 'OK, we know this is bad for the environment; we should switch to this,'" said taxpayer Tyler Vaughn.
Car dealers say they expect the move will create a decline in electric vehicle sales.