Congress could soon impose a $130 annual fee on owners of electric vehicles to help pay for repairs to the nation’s roads.The provision was tucked into a $580 billion bipartisan highway funding bill that Congress is aiming to pass before the end of September. If the bill becomes law as written, the Federal Highway Administration would be required to impose a $130 annual “registration fee” on electric vehicles collected by each state. It also imposes an annual “registration fee” of $35 for plug-in hybrid vehicles.Starting in 2029, according to a summary of the legislation, the fee would increase by $5 every two years until it hits $150 annually for electric vehicles and $50 or plug-in hybrids.
“The BUILD America 250 Act ensures that electric vehicle owners begin paying their fair share for the use of our roads,” said House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), who helped author the highway funding bill.
Infrastructure experts have long warned that the increased use of electric vehicles could severely deplete funding for the nation’s roads and bridges. That’s because the federal government funds upkeep for infrastructure projects through the federal gas tax — 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel.
