The November, 2006 issue of Business 2.0 reports that several U.S. companies are awarding cash bonuses to employees who buy fuel-efficient cars.
Hyperion Solutions was first off the mark in 2004 with its Drive Clean to Drive Change program, which gives employees
$5,000 when they purchase cars with an EPA rating of 45 mpg or better. Up to 200 employees per year can benefit - first
come, first served.
Google and Timberland offer hybrid incentive programs, with Google offering $1,500 for buying a new hybrid and $2,500
for leasing one, while Timberland puts up $3,000 toward the purchase of a new hybrid.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
md @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
What if you take public transportation, bike, walk, or telecommute?
JohnJohn @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
"What if you take public transportation, bike, walk, or telecommute?"
I rather have my employees stimulate the economy with a new car purchase.
JustJase @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Wow, just think. If you worked for Hyperion and the Chevy Metro was still around, you'd be able to get one for free.
jeffrey @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
If you take transit, bike, walk, or telecommute, then get with the program, man! Use your employer's "free" money that has been earned from your hard labor and stop all of that eco-friendly, low-cost commuting nonsense. Start consumin' and pollutin', dude! You know, if I worked there, I'd sure be glad I was getting paid just a little less to help you subsidize your new technological ubercar, particularly if you were making more than me. We've all got to make sacrifices to save the planet, right?
Of course, if it were MY employer offering those incentives, and I could afford a new car right now, you bet I'd be all over it. Add this to state and federal incentives, and you could make a profit if you buy and sell yearly.
max @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
"What if you take public transportation, bike, walk, or telecommute?"
Your subways, bike paths and fiber optic lines are subsidised by the tolls.
Well actually in NY there is a "mass transit" tax on some of the phone bills.
Jenny McLane @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
The Auto Parts Geek's Oct. 28 featured blog article discussed "The Most and Least Fuel Efficient Autos", so if you are looking for cars that saves a lot on gas and fuel I can say that this is the best site you should visit on..
hans @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
my employer pays us i think $50 a month if we do not take a car into the office 8 workdays a month.
i for one am too lazy to do this as it is a huge inconvenience in L.A. if you have a work schedule that is completely random like ours. In fact my roomate works at the same place but we never arrive or leave at the same time anyway.
It is nice of these companies to do this though, the $2500 for a lease deal seems like the best (especially since you get the tax credit on 06 models too) you could lease a prius for $6000 off sticker.
George Miner @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
This almost sounds like the owner in Michigan who fired his employees if they did not quit smoking. Why do companies feel they need to manipulate their employees into doing the "PC" thing to do....enough of my rant.
In my opinion with the money you get from the company you can buy a motorcycle 50+ mpg no problem...
Banker @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
It was recently brought to light that the two founders of Google - the self righteous tree huggers that started the idea of incenting their employees to by Hybrids - just purchased a Boeing 767 as a private plane. All the details were in the WSJ about how they are having it turned into an executive flying palace. This was confirmed as all the work is being done here in San Antonio where I live. Rumor is that the interior refit is costing north of $40 million. The article also detailed how this is not a corporate jet to be used by Google, Inc. - it is a private jet for these boys to use for their own personal time.
Now, why is it that these two guys pretend to love the environment by encouraging their staff to drive hybrids, yet they are going to travel around in a $50-60 million dollar commercial airliner burning who knows how many gallons of jet fuel.
The hypocrisy is disgusting. I don't mind rich guys having jets - if I were rich I would have one - I just think they should shed the tree hugging crap before they go and pull a stunt like that.
I agree with post #8 - it is not our boss job to keep us being PC. We are here to work - nothing more.
Your Boss @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
"I agree with post #8 - it is not our boss job to keep us being PC. We are here to work - nothing more."
So stop reading & posting on Autoblog and GET TO WORK!!!
- Your Boss
Steve @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Motos are nice... if you live in an area that you can ride year round. MI has a short riding season unless you have special gear and love the cold. But I ride every chance I can. 50+ MPG is nice vs. my Jeep.
This is a moto company doing the same thing with eco cars: http://www.newenough.com/info_pages/green_cars.htm
Cheers
John B @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
#2 JohnJohn:
A quick perusal of EPA 2006 fuel ratings shows only Honda and Toyota hybrids meeting the 45 mpg requirement (highway) with the diesel VW Golf, Beetle and Jetta coming close. Whose economy do you want to stimulate? I suppose Google and Timberland may accept a Ford Escape hybrid but most likely the purchase will be a Prius or Civic.
#8 George:
I heard an interview with that employer in Michigan. He didn't do that because he's a PC health nut, his group health insurance for employees was so expensive he was looking for way to cut costs. I believe in the interview he was also going to get fat people to lose weight for the same reason.
Supercat @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Um, does that Novermber 2006 isssue of Business 2.0 happen to mention which stocks did best during the first 10 months of 2006? I'd REALLY like to know that!!
Louis Duran @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Commenter 8: "This almost sounds like the owner in Michigan who fired his employees if they did not quit smoking. Why do companies feel they need to manipulate their employees into doing the "PC" thing to do....enough of my rant.
In my opinion with the money you get from the company you can buy a motorcycle 50+ mpg no problem..."
Uhh, no. Actually it is not anything like the business owner who fired smokers. That owner was probably trying to reduce his/her insurance costs. This benefit is called an incentive to do the right thing as opposed to the other being a punishment. Incentive=good, punishment=bad. So they are actually 180 degrees opposite of each other. If a company wants to induce it's employees to reduce fuel comsumption, more power to them since the federal government surely doesn't seem to have the right incentives in place to do that. There is a bigger incentive for a small business owner to buy a Hummer than for buying a hybrid. Totally backwards of what you would expect if a country wants to reduce dependency on imported oil from terrorist sponsoring nations.
Jason Clarke @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Business 2.0 apparently has about a year's head-start on the news.
Kyle @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Well looks like I won't be using google anymore.
miscblogger @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
its good to see how these companies are stiumulating the economy and promoting alternative fuel methods.
webmaster@mysearchisover.com @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
I think the government also gives money for hybrids.
Mark @ Dec 18th 2005 10:50PM
Actually, Google's hybrid benefit is $5,000 if you buy, $2,500 towards a lease.
And about the Google founders purchase of a used 767 rather than a small executive plane, the reason I heard was that it's outfitted to carry up to 50 people -- and if you're regularly transporting more than 2 dozen people, it's more efficient fuel-wise than going in several small planes.
See link here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05308/600836.stm