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My recommendation to fix the problem is a federal highway tax based on the fourth power of axle weight. This also solves the problem of heavy EVs not paying gas
by redwall_hp 2y ago
My recommendation to fix the problem is a federal highway tax based on the fourth power of axle weight. This also solves the problem of heavy EVs not paying gas tax.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_power_law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_power_law
Maybe couple that with a requirement for a higher license tier with more liability to drive "light trucks," based on the licensing and taxation systems other countries use.
- mitthrowaway2 2y agoAbsolutely. Alberta implemented a $200 tax on EVs this year, in part "because they're heavier" and create more road wear; if they cared about that they could have simply taxed weight in proportion to the wear it creates. That puts the user fees and incentives all in the right place, and doesn't let heavy IC vehicles off the hook either.
- toast0 2y agoWell, we can just add more axles, I guess.
- redwall_hp 2y agoGood thing tollways already price per axle. I think the going rate in New York is something like $10 to cross a bridge, $5 for every additional axle, and more for vehicles over 7000lb. I wouldn't be surprised if there were federal or state laws that would already account for that on noncommercial vehicles.
- quantum_state 2y agoWould like to second this … heavier vehicles tend to cause road damage more …