North Hempstead Town officials said the 30 new electric vehicle...

North Hempstead Town officials said the 30 new electric vehicle charging stations should be installed by the summer. Credit: Danielle Silverman

Don't subsidize EVs with public funds

North Hempstead is using a $500,000 state grant to build charging stations that will charge only for electricity with no added fees ["Town to boost its chargers," Our Towns, Oct. 26]. Why use taxpayer money to build and subsidize these stations? Gasoline-powered car owners do not get government subsidies. Gas prices include government taxes as well as money to pay for gas pump construction, maintenance and profit. If drivers paid only for the actual cost of gasoline, then the projected savings in the article would drop considerably. Electric cars also receive a significant tax deduction. While they may reduce harmful emissions they also use batteries containing toxic and expensive materials. Studies show that over the life of an electric car, including its manufacture, the environmental impact is not significantly better compared to gasoline cars. Also, electric cars have increased tire wear due to the heavy battery weight which not only increases ownership cost but puts more rubber emissions in the air.

Let people buy electric cars, but don't subsidize them using public funds. The electric-charging business should be run by private enterprises.

Barry Schwartz, East Meadow

It is nice that local governments are making it easier for people with electric cars. What I would like to know, though, is why our tax dollars are paying for charging stations. Our taxes are high enough. EV owners should pay contractors to install their own chargers, hopefully at a moderate expense.

Karl Wilhelm, West Babylon

In 2022, NY sports has flip-flopped

During the summer, New York sports fans fantasized about a Yankees-Mets World Series. Now, their aspirations have switched to a Giants-Jets Super Bowl ["For a change, Jets going all out for this season," Sports, Oct. 26]. How the mighty have fallen, and the downtrodden have risen. We really do live in an upside-down world.

Bob Hoffman, Jericho

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