In the UK a new tax for electric cars has been proposed per kilometer traveled

The car has always been a huge source of income for the different governments of the world. Only direct taxes – VAT, registration tax and car tax – generate many millions of euros a year, which, if we add indirect income, such as fuel tax, we find ourselves in even higher numbers.

However, these numbers will dwindle with the popularization of the electric vehicle, as what is gained in fuel taxes is lost directly. It’s an issue already being studied in certain parts of the world, such as the United Kingdom, where a conservative “think tank” has come up with the solution: a new tax that covers the virtual deterioration of ways that overweight. can cause.

The proposal comes from the Center for Policy Studies – CPS for short – a think tank with historical ties to the Conservative Party.

The idea is that electric vehicle owners pay a tax “per mile traveled,” because their cars are heavier and as time passes, they wear down more asphalt.

As expected, this measure has caused a great deal of annoyance among users, because they are not only satisfied with imposing taxes on electric cars, but rather they are committed to applying this new tax on cars that use petrol and diesel at a later time, let’s not forget that the sale of electric cars will be banned New cars with this technology from 2030.

To try to justify themselves and smooth things over a bit, it is stated that all proceeds will be reinvested in improving the road network. In addition, a report titled “The Future of Driving” claims road pricing is necessary to address worsening congestion, reduce environmental damage from pollution and find a way to replace lost fuel tax revenues, as users shift to electric vehicles.

A solution was proposed so as not to negatively affect the political, commercial and social level – people do not want to pay for everything and could slow down the development of electric vehicle sales – which focuses on free mileage allocation based on a postcard code. For example, those who reside in remote rural areas will have a higher allowance than drivers in urban areas, which are always crowded and have multiple public transportation options.

At the same time, it is recommended not to apply the tax until the end of the decade, so as not to slow down the sale of electric cars, but they already have a formula for applying this new tax. Each vehicle will be assigned a weight mile tax code, reflecting the potential damage these heavy vehicles will cause to the roads. This tax will be collected monthly based on the distance traveled.

“There are a variety of technology options that could be used to implement such a scheme,” the report states, “from manual mileage submission, to an onboard device that automatically transmits miles, to high-tech GPS tracking.” The report’s authors advise letting drivers choose the method they’re most comfortable with, and: “Because we’re not proposing nationwide ‘smart’ charging, the government won’t need time or location data.”

Responding to the report, the RAC’s Head of Roads Policy Nicholas Lace said: “As more electric vehicles arrive on our roads, fuel tax and vehicle toll revenue will decrease, so it is imperative that a new system be developed.

The relationship between weight and asphalt deterioration is not a fantasy, we can verify it with the current heavy vehicles, which end up destroying and distorting the roads wherever they go. But the difference between a heavy-duty vehicle and an electric vehicle is noticeable, and the deterioration is more present in the case of electric vehicles.

In fact, even though electric vehicles are heavier than those with a combustion engine, they don’t quite reach the extremes of a truck or bus. We’re talking about differences of between 200 and 500 kilos versus electric cars, with models exceeding 2,000 kilos in some cases. However, there are cars with a combustion engine weighing more than 2,000 kilograms that no one thought of taxing. The point around this tax is lower income due to lower fuel consumption, which is severely exacerbated by taxes.