And what about vehicles driven outside Washington? I wonder what/when the feds will act?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2014177682_edit10volt.html?prmid=op_ed Electric cars should help maintain state highways Legislation in Olympia to charge electric cars a fee to help maintain Washington roads and highways is a fair compromise for the gas taxes they avoid. ELECTRIC-car owners should pay an annual fee in lieu of gasoline taxes to help maintain Washington roads and highways. Legislation in Olympia would levy a $100 fee when an electric car is registered, and collect it again when car tabs are renewed. Electric cars draw their power from rechargeable batteries, not gas or diesel fuel, but they do not levitate above the roadway. They contribute to wear and tear, and bear a share of the upkeep. As gas-tax revenues decline over time, the state needs help to preserve and maintain roads. For Senate Transportation Committee Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, it is a matter of fairness for all highway users. She is not, however, wedded to the $100 figure, and is open to new numbers and arguments. A $100 fee is not onerous and hardly a credible deterrent to buying a $40,000 car, before the federal tax incentives. But a round number to start might be $80, based on a comparable car driven 10,000 miles a year, at 48 miles per gallon, and a state gas tax of $0.375. Haugen's proposal for a fee is a good one — the easiest for the state to administer and consumers to pay. Others are looking down the road at the decline of gas taxes, and the brainstorming is intense. Transportation institutes from Victoria, B.C., to Texas are studying the topic. Oregon is looking at a vehicle road-usage charge and conducted a lengthy experiment with GPS-based data to track mileage. The technology evolves but not concerns about system privacy, data security and system costs. Oregon's study results convinced some people it could work. The erosion of gas-tax revenues will keep discussions going about a tax based on vehicle miles traveled. The flat fee proposed in Senate Bill 5251 is the best way to start. Overhead is low, there is equity and fairness for all highway users, and the fee is a manageable contribution to highway maintenance. Senate Bill 5251 looks ahead to address a real problem. Haugen's bill is good legislation. <more>
