As more drivers turn to zero-emissions vehicles, which don't have to pay anything at the pump, California's gas tax could soon be a thing of the past. But it would be replaced by something else.
I suppose that that’s probably the most-reasonable way to incorporate EVs into paying for the roads, but that’s going to suck for people who have an ICE vehicle registered in California but do most of their driving in other states, since they’re basically paying tax twice, once to California in terms of the ownership tax, and then again to the other states in terms of fuel.
considers
Hmm.
How about instead retaining the existing gasoline tax without changes, but making the Road Charge tax apply to only EVs, since the issue (gas tax not functioning) is specific to EVs? Then if and when other states adopt some kind of change to deal with EVs, if it differs, can adopt that policy.
EDIT: I guess that might subsidize users of plugin hybrids who do a lot of short-range city driving.
There are some states that already do that and it’s invariably unfair
Let’s be unfair the other direction: keep the gas tax and add a registration tax for all vehicles. Then EVs don’t get out of paying for road wear and we’re still incenting the transition to EVs
I suppose that that’s probably the most-reasonable way to incorporate EVs into paying for the roads, but that’s going to suck for people who have an ICE vehicle registered in California but do most of their driving in other states, since they’re basically paying tax twice, once to California in terms of the ownership tax, and then again to the other states in terms of fuel.
considers
Hmm.
How about instead retaining the existing gasoline tax without changes, but making the Road Charge tax apply to only EVs, since the issue (gas tax not functioning) is specific to EVs? Then if and when other states adopt some kind of change to deal with EVs, if it differs, can adopt that policy.
EDIT: I guess that might subsidize users of plugin hybrids who do a lot of short-range city driving.
There are some states that already do that and it’s invariably unfair
Let’s be unfair the other direction: keep the gas tax and add a registration tax for all vehicles. Then EVs don’t get out of paying for road wear and we’re still incenting the transition to EVs