Just when you think you’ve found a way to help the environment and even save a little money with your electric car, you find you’re being penalized by your state government.

While it’s not really a penalty tax, it certainly feels that way to many electric and hybrid car owners. It’s actually a way for states to make up for potentially lost tax on gasoline fuel sales. Recently, Business Week reported that the national gas tax revenue dropped $2.8 billion between 2004 and 2010.

The latest trend for state government is to levy a tax on electric car owners. So, if you thought you were going to save a few bucks at the pump, forget that misconception.

In a tight economy, states are struggling to hang on to their revenues and as surprising as it has been to many electric car owners in the states of Washington and Virginia, state governments will have that gas tax revenue one way or another.









Green Car Tax

It’s a levy known as a “Green Car Tax” and a few other names that don’t reflect the new laws but do reflect the green car owners’ frustrations.

With the advent of more fuel efficient vehicles and Obama’s goal of cars getting 55 miles per gallon by 2025, the future of gas tax could be threatened.

Since most states rely upon gas taxes for road and bridge funding, any way that consumers can save a buck at the gas pump means less money for the state’s fund. In anticipation of more electric cars hitting the pavement, several states are making new laws to counter the loss in gas tax.

The solution isn’t being called a tax, but an annual fee. This soft pedaling of the fact doesn’t make it any easier for green car owners to accept.

Two states have already passed their ideal solution to the reduction in gas tax collected with an annual electric car fee:

–> Virginia $64 annually

–> Washington State $100 annually

States in process (1) of debating or passing green car taxes include:

–> Arizona proposed a flat $120 annual fee.

–>Indiana created a committee to study impact of electric car fees.

–> Michigan is debating.

–> New Jersey proposed $50 annual fee for electric and compressed natural-gas cars.

–> North Carolina Senate approved $100 annual registration fee for all electric cars and a $50 annual registration fee for hybrid cars and awaits the House vote.

–> Texas proposed a flat annual fee.

Business Week reports that the heftiest fee so far can be found in Oregon, where lawmakers are contemplating charging green car owners a whopping $542.50 annual fee or a possible $1.55 per mile fee. (2)

While many electric car owners believe the pay per mile is the fairest way to assess a tax, it would possibly require the installation of a meter that relays the mileage to the state office.

In a country still reeling from the alleged NSA invasion of the privacy of American citizens, having another form of surveillance, however innocent it may appear, tends to receive a knee-jerk reaction. It may be wiser to opt for a simple flat annual fee.