State Reps. introduce bill on electric vehicles

State Reps. announced the introduction of legislation to reduce punitive fees on hybrid and electric vehicles.

State Reps. Joe Miller (DAmherst) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) announced March 11 the introduction of House Bill 546, legislation to change the definitions and reduce punitive fees on hybrid and electric vehicles, according to a news release from the legislators.

Currently, owners of plugin electric vehicles are subject to an annual $200 fee while owners of hybrid electric vehicles are subject to an annual $100 fee.

This new legislation would see owners pay an annual $100 and $50 fee, respectively.

“This legislation would not only reduce fees, but alter the definitions for hybrid and electric vehicles to more accurately define and identify hybrid vehicles for the gas tax based fee,” Miller said.

“This legislation is a winwin for Ohioans,” Weinstein said. “Reducing these fees will not only promote local growth in the expanding electric vehicle industry, it will also reduce carbon emissions as consumers are incentivized to make the switch from traditional, gasoline-powered vehicles.”

Ohio’s electric vehicles industry has been growing in recent years, with Cincinnati-based Workhorse licensing its technology to the new Lordstown Motors following the closure of General Motors’ Lordstown Assembly in March 2019, the release said.

Plans for a new electric vehicles battery cell manufacturing facility, also in Lordstown, as part of a partnership between General Motors and LG Chem currently are underway.

“Reducing these registration fees would have a minimal impact on revenue for infrastructure, while also improving the air quality in Ohio and incentivizing consumers and automobile manufacturers to embrace the new green technology,” Miller said.

“Our existing manufacturing workforce has Ohio primed to stake out a leadership position in this new industry, but we must demonstrate our openness to new technology,” Weinstein said. “Workers must also know we are equally serious about supporting them as we are industry.

“The (electric vehicles) industry must provide the same high-quality jobs that support families and communities that the traditional automobile industry has.”