Texas introduces high fees to register EVs

https://gizmodo.com/greg-abbott-signs-texas-electric-vehicle-tax-1850455335

by wojtczyk • 3 years ago

9 2 3 years ago

the reasoning behind the Lone Star State’s new law is that electric car drivers don’t buy gas. Taxes at the fuel pump are the primary way that most states, Texas included, amass funds for road construction, maintenance, and other driving-related infrastructure.

I approve the sentiment, but think for fairness sake that these increased fees should be on tires for EVs (as tire replacement is a direct proxy for road use).

The average Texas driver burned through ~55 million BTUs of motor gasoline in 2018, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s equal to about 440 gallons of gas. At $0.20 per gallon, the standard car owner in Texas is paying just $88 per year in gas taxes—far less than the hundreds more EV drivers will now be throwing into the pot. A 2022 Consumer Reports analysis determined that a Texas driver’s gas tax contribution is even lower, at just $71.

440 gallons of gas is equivalent to maybe 8 - 10k miles per year. EVs tend to add more wear to roads than non-EVs, but something like a $70 tax per tire would probably be about right.

fuzzfactor• 3 years ago

“Currently, Texas uses the gasoline/diesel fuel tax to fund transportation projects; however, with the growing use of EVs, the revenue from the fuel tax is decreasing, which diminishes our ability to fund road improvements for all drivers,” said the bill’s author, Republican State Senator Robert Nichols

Nichols is lying.

Honest taxpayers need to be completely distrustful of bloviators like this, especially when his lips are moving.

Experience has shown what these kind of dishonest non-leaders really mean when they say "read my lips, no new taxes".

2021 motor fuel revenue: $3.683 Billion

2022 motor fuel revenue: $3.783 Billion

Only off by $100 million, and that's not decreasing, just to stay the same.

Looks like some of the current $27 Billion overall budget surplus would be most wisely spent on education, especially in Nichols' home district where it looks like they could really use some business math more than ever.

And even more across the state where it would really help if people were more informed about the level of dishonesty some of these wankers use to get votes.

Texas introduces high fees to register EVs

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