Electric vehicles might soon have to pay a fee for road maintenance, based on a bill reintroduced on February 12. This could address concerns about their current free ride on road regulation costs.
The details: The Fair SHARE Act, brought forward by Senator Deb Fischer and Representative Dusty Johnson, proposes a one-time fee for light-duty EVs. This fee would contribute to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which is mainly funded by fuel taxes. Truckers, making up just 4% of road users, pay almost half of HTF revenues, as reported by an ATA source.
- Light-duty EVs don't pay anything into the HTF right now. This bill aims to change that.
- Trucking groups like OOIDA and ATA support the bill, highlighting the tougher wear EVs cause due to heavy batteries.
Why it matters: Truckers are key players in keeping our roads up and running, often bearing a large share of road costs. Ensuring everyone pays their fair portion would even out contributions.
What they're saying: "America’s truckers are the backbone of our supply chain," said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. This bill, he adds, levels the playing field for road maintenance and proper infrastructure investment.