Taxpayer-subsidized EV sales grow, but that's not expected to continue

U.S. sales of electric vehicles, which are tracked obsessively, brings cause for both celebration and consternation.

Despite the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies that have backed the production of alternative energy cars, President Obama’s goal of 1 million in electric auto sales by 2015 won’t be met, as Watchdog reported a few weeks ago.

But 2014 did set new marks with more than 100,000 units — both plug-in hybrids and full electrics — delivered. Nissan, beneficiary of a $1.4 billion stimulus loan to modify a Tennessee plant for EV production, saw its Leaf model establish a new high in sales of all-electrics, with 30,200 sold.

The optimism dips in 2015.

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