Electric vehicle owners have been enjoying the benefits of lower operating costs, but that may soon change. U.S. lawmakers have proposed bipartisan legislation that would impose a $130 annual fee on electric car drivers. The proposed fee is part of the BUILD America 250 Act, which aims to ensure that electric vehicle owners contribute their fair share to the maintenance of the nation's roads.
According to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, a Republican from Missouri, "The BUILD America 250 Act ensures that electric vehicle owners begin paying their fair share for the use of our roads." The federal gas tax, which is currently 18.3 cents per gallon, has not been increased since 1993, despite rising inflation and improvements in vehicle efficiency.
View Price on AmazonThe proposed fee would increase by $5 every two years, reaching $150 by 2031. Plug-in hybrid drivers would also be subject to a $35 annual fee, which would rise to $50 over time. However, electric vehicle and environmental advocacy groups have expressed opposition to the proposed fee, arguing that it would disproportionately affect low-income households and hinder the adoption of electric vehicles.
Katherine García, director of Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All Campaign, stated, "This draft includes an irresponsible tax for EV and plug-in hybrid drivers that will fail at meaningfully closing the Highway Trust Fund shortfall." Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, added, "Now is the time to incentivize, not penalize, clean transportation options that curb emissions harmful to our health and climate."
Many states already have electric vehicle-specific registration fees to raise road-repair funds at the state level. For example, in Michigan, electric vehicle drivers must pay $267 in 2026, while plug-in hybrid owners must pay $113. In New Jersey, electric vehicle owners must pay $270 to register their vehicles, with the fee paid upfront for the first four years.
Source: insideevs.com
