Fwd: Tell your rep to vote NO on a punishing federal EV fee

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Michael Zurakov

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May 23, 2026, 2:05:54β€―PMMay 23
to Chicagoland for EVs
Hello all --Β 
Please see the action item (below) re. an unfair EV tax now in the works...
Β  -- michael z.Β 


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Plug In America <in...@pluginamerica.org>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2026 at 3:57β€―PM
Subject: Tell your rep to vote NO on a punishing federal EV fee
To: <mzur...@gmail.com>


🚨 Don't let Congress penalize EV drivers for a problem they didn't create. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β­ Β 
Plug In America logo and the text action alert

michael,

Β 

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill, a.k.a. the BUILD America 250 Act, includes a punitive annual fee targeting electric vehicle drivers β€” a fee that is unfair and economically unsound. Contact your representative today and urge them to vote NO on the BUILD America 250 Act.

Β 

This bill could move to a floor vote soon. Your call (script below) or email takes less than 5 minutes and makes a real difference β€” Congressional offices track constituent contacts closely.

The House of Representatives proposed language that adds a $130 annual tax on electric vehicles and a $35 annual tax on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to make up the funding gap in the Highway Trust Fund. EVs didn't cause the Highway Trust Fund shortfall. The fund had a deficit long before EVs became commercially viable.Β 

Β 

The real problem is that the gas tax has never been indexed to inflation.

If the 18.4Β’ gas tax had simply kept pace with inflation since 1993, it would be worth more than 40Β’ per gallon today. Congress has repeatedly failed to index the tax to inflation or to construction cost increases, steadily eroding the fund's purchasing power.Β 

The EV fee of $130 is significantly more than what gas drivers pay.

This new federal EV Tax of $130, which will increase to $150 over time, is almost double the $82.25 that the average gas driver pays. EV drivers would effectively be taxed at a higher rate than gasoline drivers for the same road use. That’s a penalty, not parity. In addition, 40 states now have separate fees and taxes on electric vehicles, the vast majority of which are far more expensive than what gas vehicles pay. This federal tax will be in addition to any state EV fees you already pay!

Β 

Punishing EV adoption undermines energy independence and climate goals.

EVs reduce dependence on imported oil, improve air quality and health outcomes, and are a cornerstone of U.S. manufacturing investment. Singling them out with punitive fees sends the wrong signal to consumers and industry at exactly the moment when consumers need relief from gas price spikes and the affordability crisis.

Β 

Let's be honest, this new tax is another attack on electric vehicles, and right now is not the time to punish drivers for supporting U.S. energy security and protecting themselves from gasoline price spikes.

Call your representative

Here's a simple script you can adapt:

Hi, my name is ______ and I’m calling from [city, state]. As your constituent, I am asking you to vote NO on the BUILD America 250 Act because it imposes punitive fees on electric vehicle drivers. The shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund was not caused by EV drivers. It was caused by Congress's failure to index the gas tax to inflation since 1993. Punishing EV drivers is unfair and economically unsound. Americans are facing an affordability crisis and some of the highest gas prices in history. This is not the time to punish drivers who are improving U.S. energy security and reducing oil dependence. Thank you.

Find your representative's phone number here.

Why does Plug In America collect the information we do? When contacting elected officials, they require contact information so they can identify whether constituents are in their district. To learn more about how we handle your data, read Plug In America’s privacy policy. You are not added to our email list unless you opt in.

Want to see more of our work? Make a donation today so we can continue.

Plug In America, 1270 S Alfred St #351268, Los Angeles, CA, CA 90035

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