EV Toll
The steadily improving fuel efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles has been steadily undermining the Highway Trust Fund for decades.? The HTF is the resource for shoring up, repairing, and replacing bridges and highways across the U.S. ?With one third of those bridges in need of repair and 7% considered structurally deficient a crisis is unfolding.
Gas taxes are the source of funding for the HTF and those tax receipts were declining before the onset of EVs and hybrids, but are now in even greater danger.? Two reports from Politico highlight the misguided efforts of states to tax EVs (with sales taxes or fees) even as they are simultaneously offering incentives for consumers to buy EVs.
“The Dark Side of the EV Revolution: Road Taxes” - https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/14/ev-gas-tax-drivers-california-00173619
“States Scramble to Replace Gas Tax Cash” - https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/14/ev-fees-states-energy-00168976
The reality is that the funding challenges emerged before EVs and hybrids began grabbing market share – but EVs will accelerate the erosion of HTF funding.? It’s pretty clear that taxes and fees will not only fall short of shoring up the HTF but will complicate the efforts to stimulate EV adoption.
The longer term picture points toward road use charging which itself has been emerging in fits and starts across the country.? The infrastructure for collecting those road use fees – primarily toll systems today - are rapidly evolving even as legislators dither and delay over confronting the HTF funding shortfall.
The math and the economics behind these evolving trends is clear and is explored in an 11 episode seminar “Introduction to Toll Operations” produced for the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association by AtkinsRealis.? The educational series is based on the knowledge and personal experience acquired by Martin Stone, according to the credits, “during his long career in tolling as a senior manager for the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority; as the U.S. COO for Egis Projects; as a senior consultant to FDOT and the Florida Turnpike Enterprise; and more.
From the first few episodes some exhibits illustrate the HTF’s fate and the state of road tolling in the U.S.
There are 35 U.S. states with road tolling, representing 5,000 miles of roadway.? Some significant interoperability exists today across four regions where 10 years ago there was limited interoperability.? There remains no Federal role nationwide.
The blue line in the chart reflects the impact – only just beginning to be felt – of the onset of hybrid and electric vehicles on fuel tax receipts. That impact increases over time.
领英推荐
This chart amplifies the impact described in the first chart.
This exhibit reflects the current status of road use charging (RUC) pilots and studies in the U.S.? This activity remains a state-level function, but a role for the Federal government in instituting or coordinating a nationwide solution seems inevitable. Utah is the latest state to adopt a RUC plan.
It is difficult to argue with the efficiency and throughput enabled by open-road tolling (ORT) or all electronic tolling – as illustrated by this data.
The efficacy of ORT is further illustrated by the conversion costs and resulting increased revenue collection and reduced cost of collection.
One of my sons moved to Texas from Virginia.? His experience with tolling as it functions today is instructive. ?He can’t be bothered with creating an account and acquiring a transponder, in spite of the fact that there are half a dozen toll payment solutions available to drivers in Texas (also reflecting multiple in-state tolling authorities).? The state of Texas would not be deterred – scanning his license plate, creating an account for him, and billing and fining him accordingly.
If you reside in a state with no tolls you are living on borrowed time or borrowed money.? The piper will have to be paid sooner or later or your roads, and bridges, and highways will continue to deteriorate.
As the Politico articles point out, more than a dozen states are simultaneously combining incentives for EV purchases and fees and taxes on those same vehicles, to recover lost fuel taxes.? This is likely contributing to EV ambivalence among consumers. This is neither sustainable nor equitable.
A new HTF funding model must be found and road-use charging is the most obvious path.? The next stage in this evolution will be GPS-based tolling which is capable of eliminating massive and expensive infrastructure including gantries and tollbooths.? Resolving privacy issues will be essential to this final transition, but make no mistake…it’s just around the bend. If you reside in an un-tolled state in the U.S., enjoy your open road free lunch while you can this Labor Day weekend.
Strategist, Futurist, Leader, Influencer - Principal Consultant at Vision Mobility
2 个月In my view, governments need to start thinking about their tax base in much broader terms: ie what do we gain and lose in adoption of EV? Gains: Better health from much less air pollution, more security due to less reliance on foreign energy, etc. So, big picture, the health budget and military budget can be lessened a little to pay for the tax losses from fuels. Alternatively all vehicles can add a fee at change of ownership, both new and used. This really isn't a difficult problem once we separate the tight thought process link between fuel tax and road infrastructure.
Transport Technology & Policy, Program & Association Management, Client Support & Business Development
3 个月Great synopsis, Roger. I watched Marty's seminars and I recommend them to anyone who wants to swim past the shallow end of the tolling pool. It's a useful series and, as far as I know, the only one of it's kind. Re RUC, I agree that it's more efficient a solution for all-miles charging than ETC systems, but that's comparing an apple to an orange. What RUC really must do is to lower the cost of collection to closer to what it currently costs to collect the gas tax which, from what I understand from FHWA and some state experts, it 1.5-4% (with the higher figure incorporating the cost of enforcement and fraud (fuel tax evasion, misuse of dyed fuels, etc.)). Current RUC system overhead is several times that today. There are solutions though - and economies of scale will certainly factor in lowering that, too.
EMODE Outdoors: Electric Mobility Development for Outdoor Recreation Destinations and On-Site
3 个月Pay to play (drive that is) I say. If it discourages driving so much then that’s also a good thing. Sure some will argue it’s unAmerican.
Not to worry. Congress will find a way to tax EV’s. They are very good at that. And now can’t you just hear big oil companies that their profits are dwindling because everyone is buying electric.