A woman was surprised to discover that her electric car ended up costing more than a gas car for an unusual reason.
Jessica Renee recently shared her surprising experience after buying an electric car.
She thought owning an electric vehicle would save her money, but she discovered that it could cost her more than a gas car for a surprising reason.
This revelation left her questioning the value of her new vehicle.
Jessica received an unexpected bill for renewal.
After purchasing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, Jessica received a bill for renewing her car plates.
To her shock, the bill included an extra fee of $200.
In a TikTok video, she expressed her confusion and frustration about this charge.
Renee shared: “So, at this point I’m wondering does it make more sense to have a gas vehicle or an electric vehicle.”
She wondered why she was required to pay more for an electric vehicle when she believed it would be more economical.
Jessica read out the letter that explained her fee.
It stated that hybrid plug-in electric vehicles would incur an additional fee ranging from $150 to $200.
It said: “The reason being, it says that ‘hybrid plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be assessed an additional fee of a hundred, a hundred and fifty to two hundred.”
This was a surprise to her, as she was not aware that her state imposed a “fuel fee” on such vehicles when renewing registration.
The woman learned about the surprising additional fees.
Jessica asked, “What do you need an extra $200 for?”
She felt that this fee was unfair, especially since she believed it wouldn’t contribute to anything new or beneficial.
Jessica humorously suggested that she might as well “throw the whole vehicle away” due to the unexpected costs.
She went on to say: “Between the electric bill and now this… throw the whole vehicle away.”
Many states in the U.S. charge additional registration fees for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
The reason for these fees is that PHEVs use less gasoline and, therefore, contribute less to the state’s funds for road maintenance, which are primarily supported by gasoline taxes.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 39 states have such fees.
The website for the NCSL states: “Vehicle registration fees are a reliable source of funding for state transportation systems.
The increase in fuel-efficient gas-powered motor vehicles, alternative transportation options, and the increased presence of electric vehicles (EVs)
and hybrid vehicles are contributing to a declining gas tax—the primary state revenue source for transportation.
“As the number of electric and hybrid vehicles on American roadways increase, state legislatures have imposed additional registration fees for such vehicles on top of traditional vehicle registration fees.”
Varying costs by state
The additional registration fees can vary widely from state to state.
For instance, some states charge as little as $50, while others can charge up to $200 or more.
In Utah, the fee can reach as high as $368.76, while Georgia residents may pay $325.61.
Other states, like Kentucky and Tennessee, also have fees above $200.
These fees are aimed at compensating for the reduced gasoline tax revenue as more drivers switch to electric and hybrid vehicles.
In addition to the registration fees, electric vehicle owners may face other costs, such as annual battery electric vehicle fees or electricity taxes, depending on the state.
Jessica found this particularly frustrating, as she was unaware of these extra financial burdens when she chose to buy an electric car.
@jess.iereneexo Between the electric bill and now this…throw the whole vehicle away #electricvehicle #chevy #chevyblazer