Transportation Leaders to Fischer: EVs Must Pay Their Fair Share

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, pressed key transportation leaders on whether electric vehicles (EVs) should contribute to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which supports the construction and maintenance of U.S. roads and bridges.
While drivers of gasoline-powered cars pay into the HTF through the federal gas tax, EVs currently do not contribute at all – despite weighing significantly more due to their large batteries. The added weight contributes to greater wear and tear on roads and bridges, increasing maintenance costs.
Fischer’s
Fair SHARE Act
would require EVs to contribute to the HTF, helping offset the damage they cause to America’s infrastructure.
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On EVs Paying Their Fair Share:
Fischer:
I want to be able to discuss with you both the Highway Trust Fund. Though the fund is outside this committee's jurisdiction, I remain concerned about its solvency and the impact that insolvency would have on our entire system, infrastructure around this entire country. Though not a silver bullet, we need to get electric vehicles paying into the fund. Currently, electric vehicles don't pay a dime. They are heavier. They cause more damage to roadways without paying for the repair, for the maintenance. They impact new construction as well. I have legislation that requires electric vehicles to contribute to the Federal Highway Trust Fund, and I know [Transportation & Infrastructure Committee] Chair Graves in the House has a proposal as well, and I appreciate his work to address this important issue. From your perspective, gentlemen, why is it important for EVs to contribute to the trust fund and for Congress to step up and address the fund solvency in our upcoming surface reauthorization?
Spear:
So, I would just say that
all users have to pay. They do. If you're on the roads, you're on the bridges, you should pay.
EV's don't, and they're heavier. It's a developing technology that we need to capture and ensure that our roads and bridges remain a priority, and that those using them are contributing to that.
…
Fischer:
Mr. Pugh, I'd like to hear your thoughts as well.
Pugh:
Yeah, we definitely support some sort of registration fee or something going to the Highway Trust Fund with electric vehicles.
I mean, by all means, why shouldn't they pay? They use the highways, and they should.
We should also make sure we're not giving them special carve outs for hauling them or transporting them because they're heavier loads to haul and transport. We should make sure we're not doing that as well.