Many discussions about shifting to road usage charging focus on whether a per-mile fee would erase one of the strongest economic incentives for switching to electric vehicles, the savings on fuel. Using publicly available vehicle ownership cost data and examples of existing mileage-based programs, this analysis examines whether a RUC system would make electric vehicles more expensive to run than comparable gasoline-powered cars.
Why states are considering road usage charges
For decades, construction and upkeep of roads and bridges in the United States have been largely funded through taxes applied to gasoline purchases. As more drivers convert to electric vehicles, less revenue arrives through those per-gallon levies, yet EVs continue to use and contribute to wear on the same public infrastructure. States face a gap between the funding they need for roads and the taxes collected at the pump.
Some jurisdictions have introduced flat annual EV registration surcharges to recover a portion of that lost revenue. Others are developing or implementing mileage-based user fees, often called road usage charges, designed to collect revenue in proportion to actual driving. Mileage-based approaches are intended to treat ICE and electric vehicles more equally by linking payments to how much a vehicle uses the road network.
Another consideration in the funding debate is vehicle mass. Many electric vehicles, due to batteries and associated components, weigh more than their internal combustion counterparts, and greater weight can increase pavement damage. This point strengthens arguments for charging by use rather than by fuel consumed.
Comparing per-mile operating costs
To assess whether a RUC would negate EV cost savings, we can compare typical per-mile ownership and operating costs across vehicle types. Using a government calculator that aggregates purchase depreciation, fuel or electricity, maintenance, insurance, and registration, it is possible to arrive at a representative cost per mile for a range of vehicles.
Across a sample of 2020-model pickups, sedans, SUVs, hybrids and battery-electric vehicles, the per-mile ownership cost for EVs tends to be lower than for comparable gasoline vehicles. In the sample used here, EVs ran about than sedans and SUVs that burn gasoline, and than comparable pickup trucks. Those figures include estimated electricity costs rather than gasoline, and account for maintenance differences that often favor electric drivetrains.
