The US Senate has introduced two bills that would increase the price of electric vehicles (EVs). The first bill, sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso, would eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for buying an EV. The second bill, from Sen. Deb Fischer, would impose a one-time $1,000 fee on new EV purchases.
The bills are seen as a way to counter what Republicans view as unfair advantages given to EV owners. Many argue that EV owners pay no gas taxes, despite owning and using both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles. However, others have pointed out that some states already impose registration fees or charge mileage-based fees for EVs.
Senator Fischer claims that the $1,000 fee is designed to match what an average gas car owner would pay in fuel taxes over 10 years. The bills are expected to face opposition from other Republicans who benefit from Biden’s EV investments.
The move comes after President Trump signed executive orders signaling his intent to eliminate the Biden administration’s EV policies, which he claims are a “mandate”. While it is unclear how far these bills will go, the trend suggests that EV costs may rise in the coming months.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/613296/senate-bills-ev-tax-credit-kill-fee-highway-republican