We’ve been sounding the alarm on North Carolina’s looming revenue crisis if EV owners don’t start paying their fair share of the state’s transportation revenue. And North Carolina is not alone: two recent estimates from California and Louisiana show the alarming reality that when EV owners don’t pay their fair share, it can jeopardize the nation’s entire transportation network.

As the transition to electric vehicles picks up speed in the coming years, policymakers must figure out how to address the significant loss of gas tax revenues.

CBS – California’s move from gas-fueled cars comes with revenue loss

“While the California legislature has approved a ban on the sale of new gasoline-fueled cars by 2035, experts say there are big challenges ahead. One estimate is that, by 2040, the same will be short $30 billion due to lost gas-tax revenue. That money goes to fund a majority of infrastructure projects and without it there be a bumpy road ahead for California drivers.”

Transport Topics – Louisiana’s Fuel Tax Can’t Meet Road Needs, Audit Says

“Waguespack said the state’s ability to address road and bridge needs is also being hurt by more efficient vehicles and the expectation that electric vehicles will be a bigger presence in the future. Those two developments will mean $564 million less motor vehicle revenue for state projects in the next decade, he said.”

Regardless of where you stand on EVs, we encourage legislators to develop fair and equitable policies to ensure all users of North Carolina’s transportation network pay their fair share.