Illinois might start charging $1,000 per year to own an electric vehicle

[dalton99a]

https://www.pjstar.com/news/20190511/illinois-might-start-charging-1000-per-year-to-own-electric-vehicle

Illinois might start charging $1,000 per year to own an electric vehicle
By Robert Channick of the Chicago Tribune (TNS)
Posted at 4:53 PM

A proposed hike in Illinois’ annual registration fee for electric vehicles, from $17.50 to $1,000, is being called unfair by current EV owners, and a sales disincentive by manufacturers — just as the new technology is beginning to gain broader traction.

“It’s outrageous,” said Nicoletta Skarlatos, 56, of Chicago, who bought a Tesla Model S five years ago. “I thought Illinois was progressive and would want to encourage EV ownership.”

Aimed at raising money to make overdue road improvements across Illinois, the proposed legislation would also more than double the state’s gas tax to 44 cents a gallon and raise the registration fee for standard vehicles to $148, from $98, among other elements.

But the kicker is a nearly 60-fold increase in the electric vehicle registration fee — one that is sure to cause sticker shock across a nascent segment of the auto industry, which has depended on government incentives to entice early adopters.

Hybrids and plug-in electric hybrids, which both use gas to supplement electric power, are not included in the $1,000 fee proposal.

The justification for the dramatic hike? Electric vehicles don’t provide the state with any gas tax revenue.

[Loki Liesmith]

1. There's an argument to be made for it

Gas taxes are used for road upkeep. As it stands owners of electric vehicles are not contributing to that pool of money.

However it might be prudent to wait until electric vehicles are better established to levy this fee. Too much damage could be done to this nascent market.

[TheBlackAdder]

5. Theoretically, gas taxes are used for upkeep. Assholes like Chris Christie divert it to General Fund

.

They say the money is dedicated for road repairs and infrastructure, but the governors can often redirect it.

Dickweed Christie would do that to plug the billion dollar deficit he created by giving a tax break to millionaires.

.

[hatrack]

6. In Missouri, we had to pass a constitutional amendment to fund roads

The scenario you describe above is exactly what was happening, and the roads were crap.

A constitutional amendment. Pathetic.

[beachbum bob]

2. Fees will be going up as electric vehicles shouldn't get a free pass

for road upkeep. It will not be $1000....

[dsc]

3. that would be 2273 gallons of gas in a year

or 43 gallons a week. That seems a wee bit excessive. Assuming 20 mpg that is 860 miles a week.

[hughee99]

4. Get an electric car! Sure they cost more, but you'll make that back

On gas... maybe eventually.

[ansible]

9. Not really, cost of replacing the battery screws you over in the long run

[Liberal In Texas]

10. That's fossil fuel propaganda. My battery is under warranty for 10 years.

If anything toes wrong, they replace it free.

I know folks with hybrids that have NEVER had a problem with a battery even after 8 years of use. As a matter of fact, I don't know anybody with a hybrid or ev that has ever had a battery problem.

[TheFarseer]

7. I'd be much more in favor of

Adding a fee to licence all cars that goes towards road upkeep if they need more money.

[roamer65]

8. The fair way to do it is open road tolling.

I love the Illinois Tollway open road tolling scheme and then NO ONE gets out of paying for the roads.

The IPASS in my windshield covers Illinois and any E-ZPASS road.

[FakeNoose]

11. Why don't they charge $1,000 per year for registering guns?

I mean, the state would get a lot more dough from increasing gun ownership fees, wouldn't it? If you need money Illinois, get it from the gun owners, not from people who are helping to save the environment.

[Liberal In Texas]

12. How about instead we end the tax subsidies the oil industry has been getting for years

and take the money generated from that and fix the roads?

[LiberalFighter]

13. Too much. It should be comparable to miles driven by gas powered vehicles.