WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Zero Emission Transportation Association’s Executive Director Albert Gore issued the following statement reacting to the inclusion of an annual registration fee on electric vehicles and changes to EV charging programs in the House’s surface transportation reauthorization bill text:

“While ZETA understands the need to maintain the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, the proposed EV fee in the surface transportation reauthorization bill – starting at $130 and increasing to $150 by FY36 – is simply a punitive tax that would disproportionately impact adopters of electric vehicles, with no meaningful impact on maintaining the HTF. Drivers of gas-powered vehicles pay approximately $73 to $89 in federal gas tax each year. The proposed fee would charge an unfair premium on EV drivers, at a time when all Americans are looking for ways to save money. This is particularly concerning as the EV fee will increase to $150 by 2035 – nearly double what gas car drivers would pay in a year. This fee lands on top of the road use taxes that many EV drivers already pay at the state level.

“Charging a punitive fee on Americans who choose to drive electric vehicles goes against the idea of drivers paying their fair share based on their driving habits, as drivers will pay based on their drivetrain of choice and not their use of public infrastructure. It would also discourage drivers from choosing vehicles that are among the most American-made cars on the road — and the domestic jobs and supply chain investments these products represent. This fee structure would simply put a new tax on drivers, while leaving the persistent shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund effectively unaddressed.

“In addition to the new EV fee, the bill makes major changes to federal investments for dedicated EV charging. A lack of dedicated EV funding could particularly impact EV drivers living in – and traveling to – more rural and remote locations in the United States, where federal funding is most needed to help fill gaps in existing charging infrastructure.

“ZETA will continue to communicate with Members of Congress on what a truly fair road use fee might look like for EV drivers, while maintaining the growth in the domestic EV and battery industry during a time of increasing global competition.”