In Illinois, the state has enacted green energy laws in recent years like offering rebates for buying new electric cars. Illinois is investing in charging stations across the state, and now the state could reclaim some of those rebates by charging higher registration fees for electric cars.
Senate Bill 3566 would increase those fees from about $251 a year now to at least $471. This bill would also charge owner of electric cars a mileage fee. They would have the option to pay 1 1/2¢ for every mile they drive each year. Devices would be installed to calculate that, or these drivers could pay a flat $320.
(OurQuadCities.com)
The idea is that owners of these cars don’t buy gas, and so they don’t pay any gasoline taxes. Revenue generated from the gas tax is used to pay for fixing streets, highways and interstates. Electric cars clearly use them, but drivers aren’t paying the same as everyone else to use them.
How much is the state sending mixed signals when it comes to promoting the use of electric cars?
Host Jim Niedelman got into that issue with Iowa Republican party chair Jeff Kaufmann and Democratic political consultant Kevin Perkins.
“The electric vehicles are heavier vehicles,” Perkins said. “If more people are buying electric vehicles, they’re going to have to offset possible infrastructure impact that that has on the state.”
“These issues are always tricky to navigate,” Kaufmann said. “What you have is not the traditional Democrat versus Republican debate.”
To hear more, click on the video above.
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