One of the contentious bills coming out of the 2019 legislative session is SB 409. This bill introduces a surcharge for electric vehicles. As many have indicated earlier, this represents a misguided effort to ensure revenues required to maintain our roadways are protected. While it can be argued that all road users must contribute to their maintenance and repair, the policy shift is premature and runs counter to our state’s clean energy and sustainability goals. With electric vehicles representing less that 1% of our passenger vehicles, the revenue impact will be tiny. However, the impact on the consumer adoption of clean transportation will be negative. In other words, this policy change is premature.

SB 409 passed and is on Governor Ige’s desk for signature. From a recent press release, it looks like it is not on the list of bills that will be vetoed by the Governor.

Please take a moment to express your thoughts about SB 409 with the governor’s office. You can write or call. If you write, use the Governor’s webform: Comments on Legislation. If you prefer, call (808) 586-0034 between 730am and 430pm.

Our climate crisis is demanding urgent action. We must wean ourselves from fossil fuel and one of the ways is to escalate the adoption of electric cars.