This is an April Fools
In Canada, each province and territory taxes fuel at the pump to finance sectors in need. The imminent arrival of electric vehicles (EVs) is preoccupying many leaders, as several analysts believe they will replace heat engines in the not-so-distant future. In order to keep up a steady stream of revenue, the government of Alberta is toying with the idea of applying an 8% tax on the purchase of EVs.
When contacted by Auto123.com, a source at the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs that wishes to remain anonymous said “the amounts collected will be minimal” and “the news isn’t as big a deal as you might think.” “At any rate, people who buy EVs are so taken with them that spending a few thousand dollars extra won’t bother them too much,” she added.
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| Photo: Nissan |
Our informer also mentioned that “in the most optimistic scenario, only 100 units would actually be sold, in large urban areas like Edmonton and Calgary. Supposing they sell for an average of $40,000, the government would collect a total of $32,000. We’re talking minimal amounts compared to the 24.2 cents per litre of gas currently gleaned at the pump”.
In the meantime, in the US
According to an article on plugincars.com , the States of Oregon, Washington and Texas are on the verge of taxing EV owners to recover some of the revenues lost at the pump.
Similarly to us, our southern neighbours are levying fees that they later reintroduce into the economy. In Oregon, for instance, the 30 cents per gallon charged by the government are used to build and repair roads. State legislators are currently debating the measures that need to be taken to maintain the same level of service.
Essentially the same solution as Alberta has been proposed, as well as another that would take mileage into consideration. The movements of EV drivers would have to be closely monitored, which raises privacy protection issues and calls the role of Big Brother into question.