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Wisconsin has doubled the registration fee on hybrids. The rational is that hybrids, because they are more efficient, don't pay as much fuel tax as other vehicles. I cannot argue with that premise, but the legislation ignores the fact that there are scores of other vehicles using the roads with similar or even greater efficiency.

Readers of this forum are fully aware of those vehicles, I'm sure; the diesels, CNG/NGV's , motorcycles, mopeds and even the now incredibly efficient ICE- only cars like the Versa and Cruze.

How is this tax- specifically on hybrids- not discriminatory? Is it legal for a state government to tax one citizen for using roads while not paying fees, but not another doing so similarly?

I know the new Wisconsin law has been discussed on this forum pretty thoroughly up to this point, but I'm hoping someone with a legal background can tell me whether this legislation would stand up in court.

Toyota, Mazda, Denso to form electric vehicle venture: sources | Reuters

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

Timely find after our recent hurricanes and numerous posts here on using a Pri for home generating power.

"Junk yard 2nd generation Prius engine into a home generator set because I could and it was a challenge to myself. Removed final drive cvt belt and gears and welded power split device sun gear to lock outer motor mg2 to get 120v ac at idle. This thing will never go back into another car anyway. This engine runs on the 2001 Toyota echo ecu, not the Prius due to complexity and cost of components. The engine it self is running in limp mode mainly because I don't have an idle air control wired up and I really don't need it. I only needed the ecu for spark control and injector cycling but thinking about Arduino for injector control in the future. The engine is started on a car starter because I don't have the prius components or battery pack. I cut the transmission case on the side using a saw+zza and used an automatic flex plate and bolted the flywheel on top of it to lock the...