Like it or not, electric vehicles are a governmental favorite, and if better deep cycle batteries are ever developed they could give gas vehicles a run for their money in places like TV.
I'm in the process of buying a Tomberlin LSV and the tax credit was a major factor. Other than having to pay enough tax to cover the credit I don't believe there are any other qualifying limitations. A draft IRS Form 8936 is now on the IRS website and although there aren't any draft instructions posted the form seems straightforward enough. Tomberlin has IRS approval for a number of different models that you can't get yet. They were no doubt planning ahead.
The EESA (Emergency Economic Stimulas Act) did indeed create the credit and after so many LSV's (IRS approved, that is) are sold the credit will be reduced and eventually likely disappear. I think 250,000 is the total number of vehicles that should qualify and each approved manufacturer is to make quarterly reports to the IRS as to the number of LSV's they have sold.
The tax credit makes LSV's less expensive than new golf carts and very competitive with rebuilt golf carts (depending upon the level of rebuilding).
The long-term cost of licensing and increased insurance cost are the only drawbacks I've identified. Safety could be an issue but in The Villages you could keep your licensed cart (LSV) on the golf trails and still get almost everywhere you wanted to go.
It is too bad that the big three (Club Car, Yamaha, EZ-Go) don't make qualifying LSV's. Par-Car does but I chose Tomberlin, even though they haven't been around long enough to have much of a track record.
Here's hoping that Craigslist helps me find a new owner for my used Club Car (which served me well for 5+ years).
