SB 1728, which proposes an Electric Vehicle Road Tax of up to $200 / year is in the TX House for a vote on Monday. Now’s the time to *CALL* your house representative before the session starts on Monday morning! $200 on 12,000 miles is equivalent to a gas car that gets 24 MPG (which includes a separate Federal road tax). For most EV drivers, this winds up being at least double what we were paying with our gas cars.
We believe EV owners should pay their fair share to maintain our roads. This bill isn’t fair and creates long-term problems that will be difficult to fix later — please ask your house representative to vote NO on SB 1728 and demand a comprehensive road tax overhaul that’s fair to all vehicle owners.
Potential Talking Points:
- Most EV drivers switched from high MPG gas cars. We are being penalized by applying a low MPG to the tax.
- The State’s own study concluded that a $103 road tax was equivalent. https://interchange.puc.texas.gov/Documents/49125_64_1098844.PDF
- In general, EVs cost more than gas cars and have already paid more use tax.
- This bill inappropriately attempts to collect a proxy for the Federal road tax, which is not in the State’s purview.
- EVs are already paying taxes on the electricity purchased.
- Texas offers a $2,500 emissions program grant to EV buyers. Why offer the grant and then claw it back through extra taxes?
- EVs shouldn’t be singled out for a different tax treatment than other forms of fuel.
- Companies are making substantial EV investment in Texas and shouldn't expect punitive taxes on their products (e.g. Tesla Gigafactory, Lonestar Specialty Vehicles, Aryo, Volcon, Toshiba Heavy Industries and others)
- We would be taxed for out-of-state driving.
- All EVs pay the same amount regardless of weight. An EV motorcycle pays the same as an EV SUV.
- There will be 1 million EVs on the road in Texas in ten years. This bill is written to be expedient and possibly save some IT implementation cost. It is not strategic, nor does it address the coming infrastructure problems in Texas.
We believe all cars should be charged by in-State distance driven and vehicle weight.
Image: QuoteInspector.com
