Texans who drive electric vehicles could face a new expense.
The Texas House and Texas Senate have both passed a bill that would impose a new annual registration fee on those vehicles. The version that cleared the House this week sets the fee at $200.
Supporters of the measure say it's a way for Texas to make up for revenue the state is losing because electric vehicle drivers don't pay gasoline taxes. Texas uses gas tax revenue to help pay for road repair and construction projects.
"Texas has 200,000 lane-miles of roads that we maintain and preserve. one of the funding streams is the fee that you pay at the pump, at the gas station," said State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg. "EV users pay no fees using Texas roads. What this does is seek to make it equitable and make them contribute what their fair share should be."
Some members of the legislature felt the fee was too high. They argued for a fee closer to $70.
"Everyone agrees that it is time for electric vehicles to pay into the Highway Fund through an annual fee," said State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Kyle. "A Texan who buys a small electric car should pay for the roads - but they shouldn't pay three times what the same sized gas-powered car would pay."
Rep. Canales countered that electric vehicles should be charged a larger fee because they place more wear and tear on the roads.
"We would be short changing the citizens of Texas on our roads," he said. "The reality is that EVs often weigh more. The more a vehicle weighs, the more pavement consumption there is, the more preservation and maintenance we have to perform on the roads."
Senate Bill 505 passed the House this week and had previously been passed by the Senate. It will now go to Governor Greg Abbott's desk for his approval.
Environmental groups are critical of increasing the costs associated with electric vehicle ownership.
"The Texas Legislature is pouring sugar in the tank of the electric vehicle revolution. This punitive fee will make it harder for Texans to afford these clean vehicles which are so critical to reducing air pollution in Texas," said Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger.
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