Electric Car Owners Hit With $100 Tax

For the very first time, owning an electric car in the United States will actually incur a cost penalty instead of an incentive from the state government.  The state of Washington has decided that each and every registration of a pure electric vehicle will be hit with an additional $100 fee.  The $100 charge is intended to make up for the lost gas tax revenue associated with electric cars, and will ostensibly used to help maintain state roads.

The rule applies to all electric cars that can reach speeds greater than 35-mph, excluding carts and industrial equipment that typically doesn't travel on public roads.  What makes the move even odder is the fact that Washington currently doles out tax rebates to electric vehicle buyers, creating a situation where the government gives with the left hand and takes with the right.  The reason for slapping on a $100 tax at registration instead of simply reducing current tax incentives by a similar amount could be related to the fact that owners will have to regularly re-register their cars, creating a steady - although tiny - revenue stream for the state.