WASHINGTON – Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) President Genevieve Cullen released the following statement about proposed penalties on EVs and HEVs:
"We agree that a comprehensive funding solution is necessary to maintain and modernize U.S. infrastructure. Discriminatory electric vehicle and hybrid registration fees will not address the underlying problems of the funding system. They can, however, harm an important emerging U.S. industry and hurt consumers, particularly low-income consumers.
A driver’s “fair share” needs to be based on a fair calculation. For battery electric vehicles, a $250 annual fee is nearly triple what the driver of an average new gasoline car pays. And unlike the gas tax, which has not been revisited since 1993, the proposed fees would be indexed to inflation, meaning these penalties would increase every year.
It’s also important to recognize that hybrid vehicle drivers already pay gas taxes. Imposing an additional fee on these drivers is simply a tax on innovation and the future of the American auto industry. The U.S. needs to modernize the Highway Trust Fund to secure our transportation infrastructure without penalizing consumer choices or impeding competitiveness."
