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[Rogercoulter]

Wednesday Jan 17th, the Washington State Senate will consider a bill to reduce the electric vehicle fee for motorcycles.  There's currently no distinction between motorcycles and cars so the per-mile cost is roughly 8 times higher for electric motorcycles than conventional motorcycles and 4 times higher (per mile) than for cars.  This fee, intended to make electric cars pay a comparable tax to support roads and bridges that gas vehicles pay through the fuel tax, has the unanticipated consequence of punishing electric motorcycles - treating them like gas guzzling SUVs. The new law would fix that by reducing electric vehicle fees for motorcycles from $250 to $30.

http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6107&Year=2017

Anyone near Olympia Washington might want to come testify in support.  Wednesday, January 17th, at 3:30 p.m. in SHR 1 In J.A. Cherberg Building.

The rest of you. Please wish us luck.

Roger
 

[Richard230]

California is doing the same thing by charging all electric vehicles, including electric motorcycles, an extra $100 each year, over and above the normal license registration fees for the vehicle, to fund road and other random transportation improvements starting next year. However, there appears to be no interest in giving electric motorcycles a break in this state.  I don't think the California state legislature ever backs off on a tax once it is in place. 

[ultrarnr]

I live in North Carolina and renewed my registration on my SR last month. Nice to see that North Carolina has eliminated the $150.00 a year EV fee for electric motorcycles.

[Keith]

Or is it just a mistake by NC DMV? I didn't see anything about a change in the news or on NCDOT website. The fee is listed here

All Electric Vehicles are subject to a $130 fee in addition to their registration fees    $130

https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/fees/?s=VF

[NEW2elec]

Well GA has a $200 fee but I have been emailing my state senator who agreed that it shouldn't be the same for motorcycles as 4800 pound cars.  He wanted my weight specs and i also calculated what I would have paid in gas tax for going 5000 miles figuring 40MPG which came out to $32.50.
We'll see if anything changes but most of these guys don't have these kind of numbers to help make decisions.

[Keith]

I ride 95% off road so the EV tax really rubs me wrong. The only fair solution I can think of is a tax on tires. That would equalize the pain in direct proportion to actual vehicle weight and amount of use if properly done. Tire size and weight rating would affect the rates. But a flat yearly per vehicle fee is just not fair to anybody, especially me!

[MostlyBonkers]

I ride 95% off road so the EV tax really rubs me wrong. The only fair solution I can think of is a tax on tires. That would equalize the pain in direct proportion to actual vehicle weight and amount of use if properly done. Tire size and weight rating would affect the rates. But a flat yearly per vehicle fee is just not fair to anybody, especially me!

Very clever! I've never heard of a tyre tax.  Spot on though; tyres don't lie - a vehicle needs the right tyres to do the job.  I always look at the rear tyre of a motorcycle to help judge the performance of a sports bike.  I'm surprised the Zero SR doesn't wear bigger shoes, considering all that torque. That's the only exception I can think of!

Ever thought of a career as a tax man Keith?

[Keith]

I do my own taxes and for a few others too, so maybe. But I'd NEVER be politician! That's who needs to hear these ideas and actually do something right. I'm not holding my breath. The big EV manufactures could lobby for it, but they'd be up against the tire industry. Changing laws is always complicated and never keeps up with tech.

[Richard230]

I do my own taxes and for a few others too, so maybe. But I'd NEVER be politician! That's who needs to hear these ideas and actually do something right. I'm not holding my breath. The big EV manufactures could lobby for it, but they'd be up against the tire industry. Changing laws is always complicated and never keeps up with tech.

Unfortunately, in the U.S. (and likely elsewhere) it is all about influence bought with money. Our legislators only seem to really respond to "donations" to their reelection campaigns. If you can't afford to buy yourself a congressman, you don't get any respect, much less any favorable legislation introduced.  I am sure that Zero knows that, but they just can't afford the high price of government influence - and there goes the chance of any electric motorcycle incentives. 

[Rogercoulter]

Update:  The legislation got all the way through the Senate, and then Senator Rolfes pulled a lot of strings to get it to the House, which amazingly held hearings with one agenda item (MY BILL!) It moved through both committees and to the floor of the House on the last day of the session. Sadly they ran out of time and it didn't get the last vote it needed to go to the Governor's desk. Huge Kudos to Senator Rolfes and Representative Morris for helping it along.   There was a terrifying moment when the House transportation committee was considering it, and no one was there to speak for it. There was  a lot of joking and mocking about special interests and Representative Morris finally put two and two together and figured out what was going on and why this was in fact fair for motorcycles.   We may try again next year.  Importantly, i hope the replacement program considers motorcycles. I love the idea on the tire tax - very clever.

[Hondacubber]

Does the Washington state electric vehicle registration fee apply if it has less than a 30-mile range? "RCW 46.17.323
Electric vehicle registration renewal fees.
(1) Before accepting an application for an annual vehicle registration renewal for a vehicle that both (a) uses at least one method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an external source of electricity and (b) is capable of traveling at least thirty miles using only battery power, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director must require the applicant to pay a one hundred dollar fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The one hundred dollar fee is due only at the time of annual registration renewal.
(2) This section only applies to a vehicle that is designed to have the capability to drive at a speed of more than thirty-five miles per hour."

[Richard230]

Does the Washington state electric vehicle registration fee apply if it has less than a 30-mile range? "RCW 46.17.323
Electric vehicle registration renewal fees.
(1) Before accepting an application for an annual vehicle registration renewal for a vehicle that both (a) uses at least one method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an external source of electricity and (b) is capable of traveling at least thirty miles using only battery power, the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director must require the applicant to pay a one hundred dollar fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. The one hundred dollar fee is due only at the time of annual registration renewal.
(2) This section only applies to a vehicle that is designed to have the capability to drive at a speed of more than thirty-five miles per hour."

Well, you have it better than California, which wants that $100 EV registration fee paid every year, in addition to the usual vehicle registration fee, which is based upon the original selling price of the vehicle.

Getting back to your question: It appears to me that vehicles with a range less than 30 miles that can not exceed 35 mph, do not have to pay that fee. Which sounds like they are thinking of electric bicycle/city scooter-type of vehicles. Do those type of vehicles have to be registered with the DMV in Washington state? And if they do, how will you prove to the minions at the DMV that they meet that criteria?