I like it too. Flat rate, no calculating, no record keeping, very tough or impossible to cheat, simple.
How to tax EVs
- Thread starter LavaRand
- Start date
A flat annual fee based on what ?
I would like to see weight vs tire size vs road wear statistics. I can’t imagine a car with 305s on all 4 corners does as much road damage as the same car with 165s.
You wonder why Hybrids, EVs etc sell so well here. Years back, the Prius was the #1 selling car in CA for like 10 years running. Of course, the computer lane benefit didn't hurt either...
Prices are way down right now, dunno why. I put rag in the Tundra the other day for $4 per gallon! I'm selling the Tesla!
Here's the Costco I often shop at:
A basic method would be (similar to how counties calculate their budgets and then choose a levy rate), they would first calculate and approve an annual transportation budget, B. Then they would project how many cars are currently or typically registered in the state every year, C. Then they would divide B/C, and that would be how much you would pay for your registration every year. Possibly with a formula including the size/weight of the vehicle, to account for different impacts to the infrastructure.
The chances of that actually happening are low. Instead, they will choose some arbitrary registration fee, and if it's not enough, general taxpayers will fill the gap. If it's too much, they will adapt the budget to the income instead of the other way around.
Note that if they did use a formula to determine different cost per vehicle, and it heavily weighed the impact to the infrastructure, commercial vehicles might end up shouldering a majority of the cost, potentially to the point where individual cars would not have to pay much at all. This is because commercial vehicles cause almost all of the wear on the roads. This might be politically unpopular, because the businesses and truckers would complain they can't freeload. But it's still technically good policy. Running freight on the roads will simply get marginally more expensive, but given the cost of fuel, labor etc, the extra registration cost would be nominal. Trucks burn hundreds of dollars of fuel on every trip, and whatever cost of registration would hardly cripple the industry. And whatever that marginal extra cost might be, it will be passed through to consumers who might marginally choose goods with less transportation cost.
They charge EV owners more than what the avg ICE owner would pay at the pump.
Sure but everyone pays the same rate. Toyota owners aren't paying more than Ford owners simply because the Toyota wasn't made in America.
Estimated average miles driven per year?
If you allow estimated mileage, you need a true up every other year or whatever... And weight.
Needs enforcement... I say post annual mileage via cell phone app or on board electronics.
Cali and other states would rather have a black box or OEM data collection be required on every car. Knowledge (and data) is power.
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/...ined/103-b132f215-f0d1-4d83-8c96-1cc95476e7a3
This article throws out an initial 2.5 cents per mile figure.
The state would estimate the mileage and everyone would have the same estimate. Obviously some would drive more or less (more likely less) than the estimate. Sure they can add weight but all of this must be quantifiable.
Well, that's like what CA has now. A flat fee. We need to fo better because the low drivers subsidize the high drivers. There has to be a true up of some kind.
Just my opinion.
Just like ICE engines get taxed by the death of 1000 paper cuts, so also should be EVs. If they cause $350 worth of road damage, get them with a $35 plate fee, $50 EV registration surcharge, $100 excise tax, and four bucks every time they cross a strategic bridge. It won't add up to $350, but neither does our current federal gas tax that hasn't changed in 30 years.
So a Honda 125 and a 9000lb Silverado are equal then.
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- Sep 1, 2024
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Calif charges registration on value. A new car you pay a lot, then it tapers down over ten years or something and levels off. Right now like about $150. If you put a camper shell on your pickup it can be registered like a car. If open bed it has to be a commercial vehicle, which is a little more. It’s a registration fee only as far as I know. But the money is used for several things. So I was wrong, about 29% goes for registration.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-statistics/
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/dmv-collections-pdf/
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-statistics/
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/dmv-collections-pdf/
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It should be taxed based on consumption.
1) When someone buys or has bought an EV, the BMV/DMV/DOR will notify the owners electric company.
2) A portion of the electric bill will be taxed at a higher kilowatt rate to account for the increased use of the EV.
3) When a vehicle is charged at an EV station, it will be taxed as well to account for daily driving.
The level of increased consumption will be studied and averaged out. The amount of the tax will be based on the percentage increase of electricity use before versus during the time of EV ownership.
PHEVs will be taxed for increased usage as well.
This is the fairest way of funding our transportation infrastructure, and it reflects the exact way we currently fund this public need.
1) When someone buys or has bought an EV, the BMV/DMV/DOR will notify the owners electric company.
2) A portion of the electric bill will be taxed at a higher kilowatt rate to account for the increased use of the EV.
3) When a vehicle is charged at an EV station, it will be taxed as well to account for daily driving.
The level of increased consumption will be studied and averaged out. The amount of the tax will be based on the percentage increase of electricity use before versus during the time of EV ownership.
PHEVs will be taxed for increased usage as well.
This is the fairest way of funding our transportation infrastructure, and it reflects the exact way we currently fund this public need.
Consumption yes, but not of electricity. Mileage and weight.
That's way too complicated (too many reporting sources) and far too general math. Just report mileage annually.
EV owners will pay the same rate too, a flat rate for EV owners.
Like I said people in CA are getting beaten over the head with gas prices.
All true.
