Senator proposes fees for electric-car owners

EV owners are used to enjoying certain tax benefits.  Washington state however, has proposed legislation that could assess a $100 fee each year to owners of such vehicles, to compensate for the fact that they are not subject to the hefty gas tax of 37.5 cents per gallon that goes to support maintenance on the state’s roadways.  The fee would be paid each year when registering the vehicle.

The $100 annual fee is certainly nominal, as it would equate to the taxes otherwise paid after purchasing 266 gallons of gas.  That equates to about 6,666 miles of driving in a vehicle that obtains 25mpg.  Analysts have calculated that the average conventional car or light truck owner pays $204 per year in state gas taxes.

It is unclear at this point whether the bill will pass the Senate, but some members of the House have already voiced their approval.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Auto Observer