The bailout legislation passed by the Senate—which began life as a three-page bill and ended up as a 451-page bill—contains among its many provisions a tax credit for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, according to Green Car Congress. The credit won't phase out until 250,000 vehicles are sold beginning on January 1, 2009.

Here's the breakdown: "The credit is a base $2,500 plus $417 for each kWh of battery pack capacity in excess of 4 kWh, to a maximum of $7,500 for light-duty vehicles; $10,000 for vehicles with gross vehicle weights of more than 10,000 but less than 14,000 pounds; $12,500 for vehicles with a GVW of more than 14,000 but less than 26,000 pounds; and $15,000 for any vehicle with a GVW of more than 26,000 pounds."

In short, this means that qualifying vehicles must have a battery pack with at least 4 kWh of capacity, the report said, which is a provision that will "preclude the inclusion of the first generation of Toyota PHEVs as well, potentially, as other lower all-electric range plug-ins."