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Why? In both cases the user of gas and roads is creating negative externalities for others. Taxing them compensates for the externalities. The externalities are
by graeme 8y ago
Why? In both cases the user of gas and roads is creating negative externalities for others. Taxing them compensates for the externalities. The externalities aren't dependent on income, so an income based tax doesn't seem appropriate.
Externalities are:
* Wear and tear on roads
* Congestion
* Cost of policing roads
* Road deaths and accidents
* urban pollution
* co2 increase
The latter two don't apply to electric cars, and urban pollution doesn't apply to a gas tax on rural drivers. Otherwise they both seems to be things either a gas tax or congestion charge could make up for.
- sokoloff 8y agoI drive an electric car. It is CO2 free only at the (hypothetical) tailpipe, not across the entire generation cycle. My car emits CO2 for every mile driven, just not right in the urban center.
- CydeWeys 8y agoThat CO2 emission is (or should be) taxed for its externalities at the power generation side, same as any other electricity, and doesn't need to be taxed again at the car level like petroleum-fueled vehicles must be. Plus, depending on where you're filling up, you may actually be using 100% renewable energy anyway, so you're not emitting CO2. There are states that are close to majority-renewable now, and will be in a few years.