‘That makes no sense,’ rage drivers about gas tax hike and new $250 EV fee to be rolled out in major US state

GAS and EV charging prices are expected to rise in a major state as lawmakers make a bid to secure infrastructure funding.

Some drivers on Reddit are speaking out against the new road taxes in New Jersey.

Governor Phil Murphy, along with key state lawmakers, is spearheading a plan to gradually increase the gasoline tax by nearly 1.9 cents per gallon each year.

A new bill would implement the gas tax hike each year for the next five years until drivers spend $.10 a gallon more, according to NJ.com.

The bill would also apply surcharges of $250 to $290 on electric vehicle drivers in the state.

Lawmakers said the plan would generate $2 billion.

The money would replenish the state's Transportation Trust Fund (TTF).

The TTF is pivotal in financing state-wide construction fixes, including highways, roads, and other vital projects.

"The state’s infrastructure is the backbone of commerce and the economy in New Jersey," state Senator Paul Sarlo said to the publication.

"Renewing the Trust Fund will address the state’s infrastructure needs, create jobs, and fuel economic growth."

Lawmakers pointed out that New Jersey's gas taxes are often levied on non-local drivers.

But Redditors are fighting back against the imposed EV surcharges.

"Regardless [of] whether I drive an EV one mile or 100,000 miles per year, I pay a $250 annual fee?" one New Jersey resident complained on the social media site.

"That makes no sense."

JERSEY'S EV FUTURE

The move to fund the TTF comes after New Jersey lawmakers passed a bill to strengthen state-wide EV adoption.

A state law, passed in November 2023, will bar sales of new gas-powered cars in the state after 2035.

New Jersey was the tenth state in the US to pass a similar law.

California was the first state to pass the EV bill.

"The steps we take today to lower emissions will improve air quality and mitigate climate impacts for generations to come, all while increasing access to cleaner car choices," Murphy said in a statement in November.

However, the implementation of EV passenger vehicles requires deep investment from local governments.

Electric vehicles - replete with heavy, solid propulsion systems - have been shown to cause more damage on public infrastructure.

Also, historic American infrastructure projects heavily relied on highway projects and petrol-powered vehicles, filling highway stops and rest areas with gas fill-up stations.

Billions of dollars from the federal government have been pumped into projects to provide wider EV charging options.

Altogether, the massive federal and state-wide investments underscore the breadth of money needed to make the seismic transportation shift.