Hi GNHBus,
From my perspective, any request to create a new tax credit, incentive or subsidy is asking for money, at least that is the way that the government sees it.
I centainly want the government to get value out of anything that they allocate my taxes towards. For example, Maine DEP's New Diesel Re-power subsidies are to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. They have enough information to predict the proposed effect of the subsidies because they could easily quantify the improvements in many re-powers that were done before the subsidy was approved. The problem with including electric or hybrid boat conversions is that they are still considered largely experimental. Nobody can point to the success of hundreds (or even tens) of conversions and the measured benefits of those conversions. Unfortunately, the best candidates for conversions are thosae boats that have very low fuel usage already (while diesel powered, I never bought 20 gallons of fuel for my 30' ketch in a single year). Even for succesfully converted vessels, the performance details are not very well documented. Like you mentioned about the Dragonfly (slow boat), how much fuel, how much solar, observed range, etc. just hasn't been published.
The dinner with Schiff is mostly social, no specific agenda. However, we typically get around to current issues and events in conversation. I know from previous conversations with him that one problem is who to ask about new technologies and the credibility of the answers. Vendors can sometimes "oversell" the benefits and end users often stop at "I love my new thing". My relationship with Schiff has developed during the research of new fuel cell technology by some friends of mine from Caltech.
I agree with you that government should be interested in supporting this "new" technology, but to date, I'm not aware of a single Federal or State program that specifically supports the electric drive conversion of boats. I have advised on a project to get state subsidy for the conversion of a commecial boat in California, but the documentation required for the proposal is very intensive. Even as one of the most progressive states concerning "green" technologies, the agencies involved have no prior experience in the concepts. That grant is still pending agency approval. If it goes through, it could become a precedent that could move the state towards broader incentives. But realistically, all of this appears to be years away. If a major manufacturer like Catalina Yachts offered and sold a number of electric boats, then commercial incentives would become more likely, but the DIY incentives would probably never materialize.
Fair winds,
Eric
Marina del Rey
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, GNHBus@... wrote:
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> I don't remember ever suggesting a vague request to ask a politician for money.
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> Here is an example, the Maine DEP ( Dept of Environmental Protection) has a program where they subsidize 50% of the New Diesel Re-Power, this effort is to reduce fuel consumption and resulting pollutants. I prefer not to use Automobiles as a comparison here, and I also wonder why the Gov't needs to get anything out of anything ?
> I aslo wonder why Maine can subsidize diesel re-powers and NOT consider or include Electric?Hybrid as an Option ??
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> I have heard several very successful tales about marine re-power from ICE to E-Prop, some cases E-Prop/Hybrid, I have been on an E-Prop vessel, the only issue it seems is that the batteries don't last long enough, and some people just can't go fast enough.
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> The specifics and details of your meeting with US Rep Schiff, in 4 weeks, are really under your control, why are you having this meeting anyway ?
> Every DEP Official in the US should be bombarding every E-Prop Organization/Professional with tons of questions at this point in time, this needs to be a concerted effort all the way to the Top, THAT is what Gov't was meant to be, " by the People, for the People", you should not have to be asking, the Gov't should be offering, just like Maine.
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