[takeahnase]

Originally Posted by Chaos Mitten

Engine displacement.

So the tax is on initial car sales and not a yearly tax?

No initial tax (except for sales tax etc.). Yearly tax will be based on some emission coefficient determined for every car type. Mileage is not factored in into this tax.

[wvboy]

How would they tax the new cars with variable displacement. Some cars shutdown cylinders when on the highway since they're not needed. I'm sure that has an effect on the emissions of the vehicle. They probably just base it off all of the cylinders moving.

[ratman201]

Originally Posted by takeahnase

No initial tax (except for sales tax etc.). Yearly tax will be based on some emission coefficient determined for every car type. Mileage is not factored in into this tax.

Does the paying the tax entitle you to a free Al Gore bobble head for your dash?

[takeahnase]

Originally Posted by wvboy

How would they tax the new cars with variable displacement. Some cars shutdown cylinders when on the highway since they're not needed. I'm sure that has an effect on the emissions of the vehicle. They probably just base it off all of the cylinders moving.

As I said, each car has some emission coefficient. Don't know if it's average emissions per mile at some average speed or whatever. Obviously, the system is not perfect. But it's better than basing it on displacement if you want an environmental factor. Engine displacement does not tell you much: A 10 year old car with 2litres will have more emissions than a modern SUV with 5litres.

[Standard]

Originally Posted by wvboy

How would they tax the new cars with variable displacement. Some cars shutdown cylinders when on the highway since they're not needed. I'm sure that has an effect on the emissions of the vehicle. They probably just base it off all of the cylinders moving.

It's the tax system would you expect it to be 100% accurate?? oh wait it's german....

[Chaos Mitten]

Originally Posted by takeahnase

No initial tax (except for sales tax etc.). Yearly tax will be based on some emission coefficient determined for every car type. Mileage is not factored in into this tax.

Yeah...that's crap. You are shitting on people who have older cars regardless of how many miles they drive or how much actual harm they do to the environment.

People fail to recognize that keeping an old car for a long time benefits the environment because you are not using the resources to constantly produce new cars. Not to mention the environmental impact of the batteries in all of these "environmentally friendly" hybrid vehicles.

[takeahnase]

Originally Posted by ratman201

Does the paying the tax entitle you to a free Al Gore bobble head for your dash?

No. The stuff Gore is rambling on about is not a big deal here: Environmental awareness here is much more pronounced than in the US.

[takeahnase]

Originally Posted by Chaos Mitten

Yeah...that's crap. You are shitting on people who have older cars regardless of how many miles they drive or how much actual harm they do to the environment.

People fail to recognize that keeping an old car for a long time benefits the environment because you are not using the resources to constantly produce new cars. Not to mention the environmental impact of the batteries in all of these "environmentally friendly" hybrid vehicles.

I agree. But the automobile lobby is a bit too strong here for anything along those lines to work.

Plus, it would be very difficult to net the benefits generated via car production (income) and consumption ("utility") with the environmental costs of production (this part is difficult) and consumption (this can be done).

[fennway4414]

I like how Tak knows more about the government of my country than I do. All I know is I don't trust politicians and I don't vote.

[takeahnase]

Originally Posted by fennway4414

I like how Tak knows more about the government of my country than I do. All I know is I don't trust politicians and I don't vote.

I was talking of Germany.