A new road charge mooted for electric vehicle drivers is based on a fundamental misconception.

A specific road use tax on EVs and hybrids makes no sense.

Given the harms caused by traditional vehicles, society should welcome the decline in fuel excise revenue caused by the transition to EVs – in the same way we should welcome declining revenue from cigarette taxes.

Vehicle registration fees make only a modest contribution to road costs. That’s why all motorists should pay a road-user charge. The payment should be based on a combination of vehicle mass and distance travelled

  • psud@aussie.zoneEnglish
    81·
    3 days ago

    That’s what it is presented as. It functions as a disincentive against EVs

    Though vehicles overall should be paying enough to pay for their infrastructure, I’d like that to be entirely borne by fossil fuel vehicles to move the balance of vehicles towards the quieter and less polluting

    • sqgl@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      81·
      3 days ago

      Don’t discriminate against the poor.

      The environment is better off with improved public transport rather than EV’s anyhow.

      • Salvo@aussie.zoneEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        The original vehicle that you don’t need to drive is Mass Transit.

        There is no such thing as a safe Self Driving Car.