Carlson used "Gold Bond Stamps", a consumer loyalty program based on trading stamps, to provided consumer incentive for grocery stores.
Gifts cards are increasingly being offered as consumer incentives at no cost or for a substantial discount.
The average cost of consumer incentives was $1,100 a vehicle in the first quarter, down from about $1,250 in the fourth quarter of last year.
This includes approximately £80m supporting research and development activities; £30m for the installation of infrastructure; and, £300m to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament.
The term plug-in electric drive vehicle is formally used in U.S. federal legislation to grant this type of consumer incentives.
They have also provided consumer incentives to use alternative-fuel vehicles.
"Nissan welcomes today's announcement by the government to offer consumer incentives for electric vehicles," said a company spokesperson.
The Recovery Act also included consumer incentives for energy efficient appliances, and these rebates have boosted sales of high efficiency appliances.
We have established a £250m fund for consumer incentives and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to encourage take-up and support the technology as it comes to market.
Lower-key consumer incentives are in place at many other companies.