Congress Proposes $130 Tax For EV Drivers

Bipartisan legislation proposed in Congress would impose a $130 fee for electric vehicle owners. The BUILD America 250 Act "ensures that electric vehicle owners begin paying their fair share for the use of our roads," said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves, Republican of Missouri. It is, in essence, a federal replacement for a gas tax that EV owners aren't paying right now.

On the surface, that looks like a problem. Funds from the gas tax are used to maintain infrastructure across the US, helping fund repairs and mass transit programs alike. American drivers pay into it every time they buy gas. But because EVs don't need gasoline, or at most don't need as much of it, drivers skirt that tax, avoiding paying into the fund that keeps the roads we all use in service. The bill has been floated several times in previous iterations.

Beginning in 2029, the $130 fee would increase by $5 biannually until it hits $150. The policy would take into account gas-using plug-in hybrid drivers, allowing them a discounted $35 annual fee that would rise over time to $50.

It's easy to see how the bill is turning molehills into mountains. Less than 10 percent of US drivers currently use an EV as their primary vehicle. More than that, the small number of registered EV owners isn't enough to accomplish what the bill is really seeking to solve with its tax: a shortfall in Highway Trust Fund finances. The trust fund is running low on money, and without it, American roadways will lack the repair and maintenance they need to keep operating. Without viable public transit options for a majority of American citizens, that leaves a huge swath of American infrastructure is vulnerable to disrepair. Legislation will be introduced soon, with the goal of landing the bill on the President's desk before September 30, 2026.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 11:03 AM.