MAGA wants to slap a $250-a-year tax on EVs. Because clean air doesn’t matter | Opinion
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Congressional Republicans propose $250 annual fee for electric vehicle owners
- Flat EV tax could exceed typical gas tax payments for some, raising fairness concerns
- Fee undermines emissions goals amid escalating climate change risks
MAGA appears willing to do whatever it takes to pull the plug on electric vehicles — or at the very least, discourage sales.
In yet another move that would deter potential buyers, House Republicans approved an annual $250 fee on EVs to help shore up the undersupported federal Highway Trust Fund. The fee was added to the president’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” now being debated in the Senate, where one Republican lawmaker, Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, has gone so far as to push for doubling it to $500.
Here’s the argument for the fee: Electric cars and trucks contribute to the wear and tear of our roads, so it’s only fair that EV drivers contribute to the maintenance and repairs of our highways and bridges. And since they don’t pay any gas taxes, what better way to do that than stick them with a yearly fee?
Hybrid drivers aren’t off the hook, either. If the measure passes, they’ll pay $100 per year.
This is in addition to any fees that EV and hybrid owners already pay to the state; in California, there is an upfront fee of $100 to register a vehicle (2020 or newer), followed by an annual renewal fee of up to $175, depending the value of the EV.
Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans are largely ignoring the melting glaciers, rising sea levels, escalating temperatures, wildfires, drought, floods and other manifestations of climate change that threaten life on Earth as we know it.
But hey, at least our roads will be in decent shape.
Keeping it fair
I drive an electric vehicle, and I agree that EV drivers should pay their fair share of road upkeep. But for most of us, $250 isn’t fair. It’s a government rip-off.
With a big assist from AI, I did the math: On average, I’ve driven my aging EV 6,000 miles per year over the past six years. If I had been driving a gas-powered vehicle that averaged 25 mpg, I would have paid $44.16 a year in federal gas tax. Let’s round it up and say 50 bucks.
That I would gladly pay, but $250? I’m not the generous.
Rather than imposing a flat tax, it would be much more equitable to base a fee on the number of miles traveled. Otherwise, a driver whose car sits in the garage six days out of seven is paying the same amount as someone who commutes 150 miles a day.
A few states — Oregon, Utah and Virginia — have voluntary mileage choice programs that allow drivers to pay fees based on how much they drive. Other states, including California, are piloting mileage-based programs.
That makes sense, but it would take a whole lot of political will to implement that on a nationwide basis.
Right now, the alternative — sticking it to EV drivers, who tend to be liberal — is just too temping for this Congress to pass up. And while it may be perfectly legal, it sets a precedent that could mean big trouble for consumers.
“It’s no different from saying you now have to start paying an annual tax on that second refrigerator in you basement or the computer in your backpack,” writes Washington Post columnist Matt Bai.
If Republicans get away with this, Bai warns that once Democrats are back in power, they could tax that much-loved gas range in your kitchen, even if you bought it 20 years ago.
Clean air should matter
EVs are no panacea, but they do reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it is stunningly shortsighted of MAGA to ignore that.
Even the Environmental Protection Agency — which is very much under Trump’s thumb — acknowledges that electric cars are more efficient and less polluting than conventional vehicles.
“Over the lifetime of the vehicle, total GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions associated with manufacturing, charging, and driving an EV are typically lower than the total GHGs associated with a gasoline car,” the EPA website says. “That’s because EVs have zero tailpipe emissions and are typically responsible for significantly fewer GHGs during operation.”
So here’s an idea that has absolutely zero chance of going anywhere, at least in the current administration.
Congress, go ahead and charge EV drivers for the damage they inflict on roads — but only if drivers of gas vehicles pay to offset the greater damage they inflict on the planet.
Otherwise, crumbling roads and bridges will be the least of our problems in the not-too-distant future.
This was updated with further information on California’s EV fees.
This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "MAGA wants to slap a $250-a-year tax on EVs. Because clean air doesn’t matter | Opinion."
