Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced legislation to impose a fee on electric vehicle sales to make up for lost gas tax revenues.
The bill, provided exclusively to the Washington Examiner, would impose a $1,000 fee on electric cars at the point of sale and a $550 fee on batteries over 1,000 pounds at the point of manufacture.
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The amount is meant to replace the gas taxes that would be paid into the Highway Trust Fund by internal combustion engine vehicles over their lifetimes. That fund currently supports over 90% of federal highway aid to states.
“It’s not fair to force the millions of Americans who don’t drive EVs to foot the bill for those who do,” Fischer said in a statement.
The legislation, the Stop EV Freeloading Act, is also sponsored by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
Federal and state officials have begun formulating ideas to replace or supplement the gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon in light of recent and predicted shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund.
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Several states have considered launching new tolls, implementing fees at public EV charging stations, and enacting a “vehicle miles traveled” tax to offset and eventually replace gas taxes. Most recently, Michigan took a first step toward a road-charge fee as the auto industry’s gradual shift into EVs reduces gas tax funds for road repairs.
Fischer’s bill, filed Thursday, has the endorsement of several industries and groups, including the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Associated General Contractors of America, the National League of Cities, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
