Common Sense Automobile Efficiency Act of 2004

This bill, introduced in 2004, aimed to encourage the use of environmentally friendly transportation by expanding federal tax incentives for alternative fuel vehicles. It would have eliminated the scheduled phase-out of tax credits for electric cars and deductions for clean-fuel vehicles, making these financial benefits more consistently available to buyers.

For the average citizen, the bill would have provided direct tax credits for purchasing various high-efficiency vehicles, including hybrids, fuel cell cars, and those using advanced "lean burn" technology. Additionally, the legislation sought to support the domestic biofuel industry by increasing tax credits for small ethanol and biodiesel producers, potentially lowering costs and increasing the availability of alternative fuels at the pump.