Current US tax law provides a tax credit of up to $7,500 for new plug-in vehicles. But what about conversions?

Current US tax law provides a tax credit of up to $7,500 for new plug-in vehicles. But what about conversions? Do-it-yourself EVs do just as much for energy independence and carbon reduction as new vehicles, and arguably need the tax incentives even more.

Entrepreneur Jack Chen, of Enginer, Inc. has taken advantage of the Obama Administration’s online platform for grassroots petitions to create a petition urging the Administration to extend the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicles (IRC 30D) tax incentives to plug-in conversions.

Supporters point out that a typical conversion has a smaller carbon footprint than a new car, as it reuses most of the original vehicle, and that supporting conversions would stimulate jobs in a different workforce segment than new cars, and would help to accelerate the development of plug-in and EV expertise in the industry.

A petition needs to reach 25,000 signatures in order to be reviewed by White House staff. As of this writing, the Equal Incentives for Conversions petition has 192. Sign the petition here.