- Texas state senators are discussing a bill that would charge drivers of electric vehicles between $200 and $250 for their car each year, plus another $190 or more if they drive over 9,000 miles.
- Other states have looked at fees for EVs, as well as road usage charge programs.
- The programs would charge every vehicle owner a fee based on miles driven and the weight of their vehicle.
America’s current system, in which gas taxes partially pay for roads and other vehicle infrastructure projects, obviously can’t survive in a world where everyone drives an electric vehicle. There is no single, obviously best solution to modernize the situation, but in Texas, the issue has resulted in some Republicans coming out in favor of tax hikes.
The bill being discussed in the Texas state senate—Senate Bill 1728—would raise fees on EV owners as a way to make up for the gas tax they’re not paying. The legislation would require an annual EV fee of between $190 and $240, an additional fee of over $150 for anyone who drives their EV more than 9000 miles a year, and an annual surcharge of $10 to fund a charging infrastructure advisory council.
Texas, which couches these fees in “equalization for road use consumption for alternatively fueled vehicles” terminology, said the fees would apply to approximately 300,000 vehicles and raise around $37.8 million for the State Highway Fund (SHF) in fiscal year 2022, climbing to $135,594,000 in fiscal year 2026. If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2021.
www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a36533690/texas-electric-car-fee-considered/