The current $100 fee could jump to $300.
Gasoline taxes will not be increased to offset the loss of revenues.
We’ve reported similar stories in the past where EV drivers will not be given hall passes for various taxes and fees levied against ICE drivers. The bottom line is that electric vehicle owners still use roads and various existing infrastructures and so need to contribute to their upkeep.
Some have said that this is a golden era for EVs as, other than the price of acquisition and potentially insurance costs, drivers are essentially exempt from paying taxes included in the cost of gasoline or diesel fuels. That could change in the near future in Tennessee.
Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) said he will not raise the gas tax or add fully tolled roads, according to the Associated Press.
“We want to make sure there’s a fair fee for everyone,” Lee said, noting that EV owners do not pay the gas tax that helps fund statewide highway and road maintenance. “We’ll figure out what that number is and move forward.”
More and more territories, regions, and cities are considering increasing registration and/or licensing fees for EV owners to make up for revenue drops. Lee adds: “We want to make sure there’s a fair fee for everyone. We’ll figure out what that number is and move forward.”
