HB209 would impose a higher annual registration cost for electric vehicles in Utah. This disincentivizes the owning of EVs in Utah.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the bill would raise the fees for electric vehicles (such as Tesla, KIA Soul or Nissan Leaf) from $120 to $300, up 150%. Registration fees for plugin hybrids (such as a Chevy Volt or PHEV) would quintuple from $52 to $260.
And fees for hybrid electric vehicles (such as a Prius) would rise from $20 to $50, up 150%. They would be the highest charges to EV owners in the U.S.
This goes against what the Transportation Committee and Gov. Spencer Cox have announced this year as what they are doing about air pollution: Through public/private partnerships, building an extensive network of EV charging stations along highways throughout Utah. In essence, this is to encourage EV use. Thus, HB209 is working against this very tenet.
HB209 is out of alignment.
Why invest taxpayer dollars to build EV charging stations throughout Utah if:
A. By 2030, the projected percentage of EV cars on roads is only 20%.
B. Utah kills any incentive to buy an EV by quintupling the annual reg fee and further disincentivizing EVs with the road usage program.
A way forward could be legislation that makes this very program mandatory for all vehicles.
UDOT’s road usage charge program is already in place. Ironically, it is only an option for EVs. You know, the people who are already aware of airshed problems and have done something to reduce their own degradation of our air quality by buying an EV.
Sen. Wayne Harper of Taylorsville and Rep. Kay Christofferson of Lehi ushered HB209′s approval through the House. It is on its way to the Utah Senate. Now is the time to contact each person on the Senate Transportation Committee and let them know your thoughts.
Ellen Birrell, Cottonwood Heights
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