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Lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that would ensure that electric vehicles (EV) aren\u2019t treated to a free ride on America\u2019s roadways.<\/p>\n
On February 12, Senator Deb Fischer\u00a0and Representative Dusty Johnson reintroduced the Fair Sharing of Highways and Roads for Electric Vehicles (Fair SHARE) Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n The bill would establish a\u00a0one-time fee for light-duty electric vehicles\u00a0to be paid into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which goes toward funding road maintenance and improvement projects.<\/p>\n Currently, light-duty EVs don\u2019t pay into the HTF at all. Most of the HTF\u2019s funding comes from federal taxes on fuel (18.3 cents per gallon for gas and 24.3 cents per gallon for diesel<\/em>), with the trucking industry contributing \u201calmost half of all revenues while representing just 4% of road users,\u201d according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA).<\/p>\n Lawmakers argue that it isn\u2019t fair that EVs don\u2019t pay into the HTF because \u201cthe average EV is significantly heavier than its gas-powered counterpart due to the weight of large EV batteries,\u201d causing more wear and tear to roadways.<\/p>\n The bill is endorsed by trucking groups including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the ATA.<\/p>\n \u201cAmerica\u2019s truckers are the backbone of our supply chain and make significant contributions to maintaining our roads and bridges by paying several taxes that support the Highway Trust Fund,\u201d\u00a0said OOIDA President Todd Spencer.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cHowever, truckers are understandably frustrated that EVs currently pay nothing to the HTF despite having equal access to the roads and highways maintained by taxpayers. OOIDA and the 150,000 truckers we represent appreciate the leadership of Senator Fischer and Representative Johnson in ensuring fairness on America\u2019s roadways. We understand the importance of investing in the vital infrastructure that keeps our economy moving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll Americans benefit from a robust and safe transportation system. \u00a0When it comes to paying for the maintenance and expansion of our road network, no one should get a free ride,\u201d said\u00a0ATA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe trucking industry makes up just 4% of the vehicles on our nation\u2019s highways, yet we pay nearly half the tab into the federal Highway Trust Fund\u2014all while moving over 70% of the domestic freight tonnage. \u00a0Clearly trucks are doing their part to invest in the nation\u2019s infrastructure, and it is reasonable to expect electric vehicles to do the same. \u00a0As fuel efficiency rises and adoption rates for alternative fuels accelerate, we must find long-term, sustainable, and equitable sources of revenue for the HTF. \u00a0We commend Senator Deb Fischer and Congressman Dusty Johnson for leading this effort to ensure that electric vehicles are paying their fair share.\u201d<\/p>\n You can learn more about the bill here. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n