Idaho Trucking Association wants ‘fuel’ tax for electric trucks

Published 10:15 am Friday, January 19, 2024

Vehicles large, medium and small will have to be zero-emission in the future under laws being crafted in California and that Washington legislators have committed to follow.

The Idaho Trucking Association is backing legislation that would tax electricity used to charge commercial electric trucks.

The tax would apply to medium-haul trucks such as those used for deliveries. Those electric trucks don’t pay the fuel tax because they don’t use gasoline or diesel.

“It’s an equity issue,” said Allen Hodges, president and CEO of the association.

A mid-range diesel truck in Idaho now pays about $5,000 a year in fuel taxes, which provide funding for road maintenance, he said.

“EVs should be paying their fair share,” he said.

There are about 40 commercial electric trucks using Idaho’s roadways, and they’re not paying a dime, he said. Some members of the state trucking association own those electric trucks and agree they should be paying their fair share, he said.

Legislation

A bill was introduced in the Idaho House last year by Rep. Clay Handy, R-Burley, that would establish an electric fuel tax of about 1 cent per kilowatt-hour. But it didn’t make it out of the Transportation and Defense Committee.

It was opposed by the Idaho Transportation Department, which was focused on a tax similar to a vehicle miles tax. It was also opposed by the Idaho Freedom Foundation, which didn’t understand charging infrastructure and contended the bill would impose burdens on churches or schools that use electric vehicles, he said.

Hodges, who has been talking with lawmakers, said a bill will be introduced this session. Hopefully, the opponents of last year’s bill have a better understanding of the issue, he said.

Electric trucks have been running down the road free, while diesel trucks are paying a fuel tax, he said.

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