Congress Weighs $135 Annual EV Fee Starting in 2026 as Gas Tops $4.51

6 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 19

$135 a year for EVs and $35 for plug-in hybrids would begin in October 2026 under a bipartisan five-year surface transportation bill, with the EV charge rising by $5 annually to $150.
Congress is considering the fee to plug a Highway Trust Fund gap as fuel-efficient cars and EVs erode receipts from the 18.4-cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, which still raises about $40 billion against roughly $60 billion in annual transportation spending.
$4.51-a-gallon gasoline has pushed some shoppers toward electric cars—15% said they were considering one in a new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll—prompting EV advocates to warn the fee could blunt demand.
Consumer Reports says EV owners still save about $8,811 over 200,000 miles, while the Energy Department estimates annual fuel savings of $2,200 for EVs and $1,500 for hybrids, cushioning but not eliminating the proposed charge.
The debate lands as U.S. new EV sales remain uneven: Cox Automotive counted 82,629 new EVs sold in March, down 24.7% from a year earlier, while used EV sales climbed 27.7%.

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