A Stab in the Back: The US Is Preparing a Transport Tax on Electric Vehicles (1 photo)

This is intended to offset the decline in fuel revenue.



In April, the US Congress will begin consideration of a surface transportation bill. It will replace the current law, which expires on September 30.

At the instigation of Republicans, the new version of the bill proposes imposing a transport tax on electric vehicle owners, as it is currently included in the price of fuel and, therefore, does not apply to battery-powered vehicles.

The motivation for introducing the fees is that road infrastructure repair and maintenance is largely funded by taxes on gasoline and diesel engines. With the growing popularity of electric vehicles, these revenues are declining, while the congestion on roads is increasing.

It's noteworthy that increasing fuel taxes isn't currently on the agenda for government officials. Moreover, their level hasn't been adjusted in the United States for over 30 years.

Some states have already implemented a kind of replacement tax on electric vehicles, and now the issue has been brought to the federal level to formalize the levy on battery-powered models as a single annual fee. Members of Congress are prepared to limit the levy to $250, while senators, according to Reuters, are pushing for a higher amount – $1,000.