New tax for EV's in Texas

[Autolycus]

GA has one too, $212.78/yr, and it’s tied to inflation. They also passed a law in March to add a tax for electricity at public charging stations (per 11kw.) All of that is supposed to replace gas taxes which go to the highway fund. However, I believe all of these EV taxes will go to the general fund. So much for bolstering nfrastructure.

That's fine for it to go to the general fund. The gas tax only pays for like 40% of the road expenditures in Georgia anyway. The rest comes from the general fund. (EDIT TO ADD: Of course it goes to the general fund. Setting aside dedicated funds like the current motor fuel tax requires a state constitutional amendment and a referendum. I doubt they'd actually manage to pass a tax structure that double-charged EV owners like they're doing now. One or the other, absolutely would pass. Both? Doubt it.)

If a registration fee like this is what makes the most sense, then charge it for everyone with a car, truck, or whatever. If the gas tax makes the most sense as a proxy for mileage driven, then charge EV owners a mileage-based fee. But absolutely do not, under ANY circumstances, charge EV owners BOTH an annual registration "make up" fee AND a fast-charging fee that's equivalent to the gas tax. That's just onerous for the sake of discouraging EV ownership.

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[azbill]

At least 30 states have these extra fees already, many of them are blue, rather than red. And public chargers typically already apply sales taxes.

 

[CaptRat]

......

If a registration fee like this is what makes the most sense, then charge it for everyone with a car, truck, or whatever. If the gas tax makes the most sense as a proxy for mileage driven, then charge EV owners a mileage-based fee. But absolutely do not, under ANY circumstances, charge EV owners BOTH an annual registration "make up" fee AND a fast-charging fee that's equivalent to the gas tax. That's just onerous for the sake of discouraging EV ownership.

Exactly this.

The premise of the charging fee is to recapture revenue from transient EVs traveling through or within the state. But AFAIK there isn't a cutout for residents with EVs registered in GA. Also, the law's 11 kw equivalent to one gallon of gas is woefully below the EPA's 33.7 kw/gallon making it three times what an ICE is taxed at the pump.

So a GA EV owner pays 60% more per year equivalent gas tax (using 2022 average miles driven per year and US national fleetwide average mpg) and 200% more charging replacement "gas tax" if not charging at home. I guess the state figures if it's going to gouge EV owners it's go big or go home.

 

[TexasCrane]

I have no real issue with this tax. Registration is already cheap in Texas compared to most other states. $200 per year is the equivalent of 1000 gallons of gas in Texas, which is a bit high, but not completely unreasonable. Keep in mind that electricity is also very cheap in Texas and EA charges by the minute here which makes fast charging on their chargers very inexpensive compared to other states.

 

[TXR1S]

Pro tip: if your registration expires in September you can renew it now and avoid the $200. Just renewed mine.

If you expire in October, renew in August.

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