Kansas committee hears bill to raise electric-vehicle registration fees, change how revenue is split with cities and counties

House Bill 2,121, which would raise annual registration fees for battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid passenger vehicles and bring electric light trucks into the fee schedule, was the subject of a hearing before the Kansas House Transportation Committee.

Proponents said the change is intended to restore parity between drivers who pay motor fuels tax and those who do not because they charge with electricity. "I want to make it clear this legislation is not designed to punish EV owners," Representative Brandon Hoheisel told the committee. He and other supporters said current collections from motor fuels are eroding as vehicles become more efficient and as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) do not pay per-gallon fuel tax.

The bill would alter current fees that, under Kansas law, are presently assessed in place of certain base registration fees for electric vehicles. Under current law, testimony noted, registration fees are: $100 for battery-electric vehicles, $50 for hybrid electric vehicles, $16 for…