Alternative fuel fee ends EV drivers’ free ride

David Strolle

September 30, 2025

Event Date:

Mon, 09/29/2025 - 08:45 am

A letter published in the Sept. 26 edition of the Cape Gazette incorrectly claimed that the increased registration fee being charged for EVs and hybrids is unfair because they are healthier for the environment. What the authors failed to realize is the increase in the registration fee is to raise revenue for road infrastructure and DelDOT. Vehicles using gasoline and diesel in Delaware pay a significant excise tax at the pump dedicated for roads and the assorted infrastructure. Gasoline is $0.23 per gallon and diesel is $0.22 per gallon. EVs do not pay this tax when charging, yet they use the same roads, bridges and other services such as plowed roads in the winter. Hybrids do use a significant amount of gasoline so their registration fee is increasing but at a much smaller amount. Many states have instituted this policy correcting the free ride EV owners have had for several years. Without it, revenues were declining. Be thankful Delaware's excise tax is much lower than the states which surround us. For example, Pennsylvania’s tax on gasoline is 58.7 cents per gallon, and Maryland's is 47.19 cents per gallon. In closing, the increase of the registration fees really comes down to everyone paying their fair share.

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