A woman has been left shocked after finding out that her electric car costs more than a gas car for a very specific reason.
Jessica Renee, aka @jess.iereneexo, has been left questioning the difference between gas and electric vehicles after showing TikTok viewers her bill for the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and explained why she’s disappointed with the fee.
Renee shared: “So, at this point I’m wondering does it make more sense to have a gas vehicle or an electric vehicle.”
Jessica Renee was shocked when she saw her electric car bill (TikTok/@jess.iereneexo)
She went on to explain that she ‘just got home and got my bill to renew my plates, and it’s an extra $200 on here.’
Then, she read out the letter which explained her fee.
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.”
Unfortunately, Renee wasn’t aware that her state charges a ‘fuel fee’ to those with her type of car when they renew.
“What do you need an extra $200 for?” Renee asked.
She said that the 200 dollars wasn’t going towards anything new as ‘it ain’t like you’re making me a new one’.
She went on to say: “Between the electric bill and now this… throw the whole vehicle away.”
Unfortunately, a lot of US states charge an additional registration fee which is due to the fact that PHEVs use less gas and contribute less to the state’s road maintenance funds, which is somewhat funded by gasoline tax.
So, 39 states charge a registration fee for PHEVs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Which can be anywhere from $50 to $200 for their annual registration fees.
You could even pay more if you live in Utah ($368.76), Georgia ($325.61), Kentucky ($260.23), or Tennessee ($235.03).
Then, depending on the state, you could also pay an annual battery electric vehicle (BEV) fees or electricity tax on top of the registration fee each year.
However, the money does typically go to the state’s infrastructure or highway maintenance.
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 is 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.”
Even though Renee was left stumped, her commenters took it in their stride, with one person writing: “Since you’re not paying the gasoline taxes, they have to get it from somewhere else. But to be honest, I would gladly pay that $200. Because I would’ve paid more in gasoline taxes.”
But others were right with her and angry too about it all.
“Girl I was so mad when I got my renewal,” one woman wrote.
“All that extra stuff just for an electric vehicle smh,” another viewer said.
