NC lawmakers propose bill to charge additional fees for electric cars, plug-in hybrids

NORTH CAROLINA — Instead of filling up at the gas pumps, owners of electric and some hybrid cars are now powering up at charging stations.

While this is good news for those who are environmentally friendly, some North Carolina lawmakers said going green should come at an additional cost.

Two state senators are proposing a new bill to make up for lost revenue from more cars using less gas and thus, paying less gas tax.

"Electric cars aren't paying any money on the gas tax and they're using the highways and the gas tax goes into the highway fund and the highway trust fund and that's what we use to build and maintain roads," Senator Jim Davis said.

The idea is to charge an additional annual fee up to $275 for electric cars and nearly $140 for plug-in hybrids.

Some drivers told Channel 9 they were onboard with the new bill.

"I have to pay for gas anyway so why not tax the people who don't pay for gas," driver Jacquis Davis said.

Driver Mia Sousa said "hybrid is the future" and said she disagreed.

"You're motivating the consumer to be more environmentally friendly and buy a car that's a hybrid to save money on gas and then you want to punish them, it just makes no sense," Sousa said.

Close to 20 states already have similar electric car fees.

Davis told Channel 9's Briana Harper the proposed costs might be less than what the bill currently says, based on the average distance lawmakers think electric and plug-in hybrid might travel and factoring in the cost of the state and federal gas tax.

"Our purpose is to keep our roads open and improved," Davis said.

This week, the bill passed in a Senate Committee, but still has a ways to go. If the bill does become law, the fees would not take effect until 2020.

Cox Media Group