An electric vehicle advocacy group predicts that electric car drivers will not rush to start paying increased taxes, as new road-user charges come into effect today.
Owners of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will be required to pay road-user charges (RUC), previously mandated for diesel cars and heavy vehicles.
Under the new rules, electric vehicle owners will be charged $76 per 1000km driven, mirroring the charges for diesel vehicles. Plug-in hybrid owners will pay $38, a reduction from the initially proposed $42, payable on a pre-pay basis.
Additionally, an administration fee of $13.71 (or $12.44 if purchased online) will apply to those obtaining RUC licenses.
EVs had been exempt from the scheme since 2009, while diesel vehicle owners already pay RUC charges, and petrol vehicle owners contribute to the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) through petrol excise taxes.
Plug-in hybrid charges were reduced from the original plan after the government accepted an opposition proposal.
A two-month grace period has been allowed by the transport agency to enable users to familiarise themselves with the system.
Kirsten Corson, Chair of Drive Electric Vehicles, believes most EV drivers will take advantage of the amnesty period, stating, ‘From listening to different EV drivers, I don’t think there’s going to be a stampede to be paying more,’ she told state media outlet RNZ.
Corson told RNZ EV drivers aren’t against paying charges but were concerned the new scheme results in electric vehicles being charged 23% more than petrol cars, despite being ‘zero-emission’.
She noted that a universal road user charge scheme is at least five years away.
The Automobile Association (AA) is urging drivers to comply promptly. Simon Douglas, AA’s Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer said EVs and plug-in hybrids contribute to road upkeep and encouraged everyone to start participating in the system from the end of the exemption period on April 1.
Douglas reassured that the system is equipped to handle additional users, stating, ‘There’s possibly going to be a little bit of an influx but … the RUC system is well established and it will cope quite comfortably as EV and [plug-in hybrid] owners get on board with it.’
Image credit: Rathaphon Nanthapreecha
Yep, cough up. EV’s are basically heavyweights and chew up the roads.
My father in law was here from South Africa in December. Completely amazed by the charging stations at Ormiston mall.
“And it’s free?!”
“Yip,” I laughed, “just while EV’s are still only optional.”
Welcome to the cow pen, you gullible virtue-signalling imbeciles. Enjoy being milked with the rest of us.
Unlike us, you’ve earned it 👍
I won’t ever be buying one and I suggest to everyone else to do the same. If we don’t buy them, they will stop making them.
But if they wear their blue spitmasks when driving, and
get their spike-protien injection papers, shouldn’t they
get a 20% discount though?
There is no EV revolution, once the petrol cars are gone, your stuck.
It’s not about Climate change.