State lawmakers are considering charging the owners of electric vehicles for every mile they drive to replace the payment of tax on gasoline is not going to do. A House committee will deal with the law Friday and could vote on it. The bill would be charged to drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles to a maximum of 1.43 cents per mile from driving cars in model year 2014.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is responsible for finding a way for electronic reporting vehicle that has traveled distance, and drivers may receive reimbursement for miles driven outside Oregon.
"It's a matter of justice," said Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, a supporter of the bill. "They are not paying any tax on gasoline. Everyone is paying, why should they get a ride right? "
Opponents say it is too early for electric vehicle use tax because the state must do everything possible to clean vehicles attractive to buyers.
It may be unfair, "but the point is we are trying to increase the number of clean vehicles on the road," said John Christian, president of the best electric cars Association of Oregon. Christian said he agreed electric vehicle owners must pay fees on-road use, but he prefers the tax is not triggered until 25 to 50 percent of non-polluting vehicles, "said Christian.
Oregon has relied on gasoline taxes for road maintenance since 1919, when he was the first state to create a tax on fuel. The tax is now 30 cents a gallon, expected to pump $ 1,100,000,000 in the state's roads over the next two years to pay for construction and road maintenance.
Oregon officials have been concerned about the potential of declining gas tax revenues because of low power hybrid vehicles were introduced a decade ago. We experimented with a pilot project that includes GPS tracking devices and reports that the number of miles traveled within Oregon. The GPS approach was scrapped amid concerns about privacy, but officials say it could be an option for drivers who prefer it.
Lawmakers in Washington are considering a proposal to charge electric vehicle owners a flat fee of $ 100 per year. Proponents say the Oregon approach is more fair because people who drive more pay more, which is how gas taxes currently work.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is responsible for finding a way for electronic reporting vehicle that has traveled distance, and drivers may receive reimbursement for miles driven outside Oregon."It's a matter of justice," said Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, a supporter of the bill. "They are not paying any tax on gasoline. Everyone is paying, why should they get a ride right? "
Opponents say it is too early for electric vehicle use tax because the state must do everything possible to clean vehicles attractive to buyers.
It may be unfair, "but the point is we are trying to increase the number of clean vehicles on the road," said John Christian, president of the best electric cars Association of Oregon. Christian said he agreed electric vehicle owners must pay fees on-road use, but he prefers the tax is not triggered until 25 to 50 percent of non-polluting vehicles, "said Christian.
Oregon has relied on gasoline taxes for road maintenance since 1919, when he was the first state to create a tax on fuel. The tax is now 30 cents a gallon, expected to pump $ 1,100,000,000 in the state's roads over the next two years to pay for construction and road maintenance.
Oregon officials have been concerned about the potential of declining gas tax revenues because of low power hybrid vehicles were introduced a decade ago. We experimented with a pilot project that includes GPS tracking devices and reports that the number of miles traveled within Oregon. The GPS approach was scrapped amid concerns about privacy, but officials say it could be an option for drivers who prefer it.
Lawmakers in Washington are considering a proposal to charge electric vehicle owners a flat fee of $ 100 per year. Proponents say the Oregon approach is more fair because people who drive more pay more, which is how gas taxes currently work.
