Gas tax on Electric cars?

[rgbecker]

So as I gassed up today, I was thinking about the big savings coming when I choose my new electric car. I'll have many to choose from next fall: The Chevy Volt, the Ford, Nissan and All electric prius. But, I wondered, how are the state and feds going to get their tax without me having to go to the gas pump to fill up?

Has anyone heard any talk about that? Seems like our infrastructure is bad enough as is without a cut in revenue.

Just wondering.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Interesting question.

I presume the electrics will do less damage to the infrastructure, though.

Personally, I'd go to some very different tax structure. Maybe part of the annual license fee assessed by body weight (the car's not mine, I hope), or a surcharge on shipping things prorated by distance (a UPS tax), or something like that. The latter idea would encourage more local sources for things.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Not really, wear and tear is mostly weight based.....nt

[old guy]

2. Interesting question.

Some type of mileage tax perhaps?

[rollingrock]

3. The market is much too small

it will probably be at least a couple of decades before the electric car market becomes large enough to have any substantial effect on tax revenues. and by then, they gov't will most certainly come up with other ways to tax you to make up for it. you can count on that. if there's one thing the govt is good at, its that.

but if you're still worried about the government getting theirs, I'm sure they would be glad to accept your voluntary donations. just make your check out to the IRS.

[rgbecker]

4. They will be getting enough of mine on April 14th.

[bhikkhu]

7. That's most likely, for years at least

And keep in mind that for many electrics may be a second low-use car for around town.

So, its kind of the same answer for the question "why don't bicyclists have to pay taxes like car drivers". The answer being, for the most part, there are virtually no cyclists who don't also own and register cars, and who buy gas like everyone else.

[TxRider]

5. Don't worry

There is nothing that is not able to be taxed.. And they will.

[jwirr]

6. If they use the roads they will be taxed. nt

[TreasonousBastard]

8. A toll booth on every driveway?

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. Yeah, legislators have been talking about this

For example, is it fair for a Prius owner to pay less in road taxes?

In my opinion, for a time at least, we can think of it as a tax incentive. To make up the shortfall, simply increase the fuel taxes. (Making even more of an incentive.)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. At least one state is looking at miles driven based on a box in the car

there are other approaches being looked at. Its not just electrics, its bio diesel or any other non-taxed automotive energy source. There are some stories out there of bio diesel pioneers having been on TV are later contacted by the state about unlicensed fuel production.

I live in the some of the best solar energy areas of the US. I have a PV array that right now puts out a bit more than I use. I could easily see the state taxing me since there my net annual electricity bill is zero. If I had an electric car, it could be taxed twice.