House Transport Committee Head Proposes Annual EV Road Repair Fee

Representative Sam Graves says electric vehicle owners should pay to help fund highway and bridge maintenance.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:44pm

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The chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), has announced a plan to introduce a new annual fee for electric vehicle owners. Graves says the fee, which could be up to $550 per year, is needed to help fund road and bridge repairs since EV drivers do not pay the federal gas tax that helps pay for infrastructure maintenance.

Why it matters

Electric vehicles are generally heavier than gas-powered cars, causing more wear and tear on roads. However, EV owners currently do not contribute to the gas tax revenue that helps pay for road repairs. This proposal aims to have EV owners pay their fair share to maintain the infrastructure they use.

The details

Graves says his proposed multi-year bill would impose an annual fee on both electric and hybrid vehicles. Previous Republican efforts to add fees of $250 for EVs and $100 for hybrids were not included in last year's tax and spending bill. Graves claims his new proposal could generate up to $550 billion for highways and bridges. Advocacy groups have pushed back on such fees, arguing the average gas tax paid by internal combustion vehicle owners is only around $88 per year.

  • Representative Graves announced the proposal on March 17, 2026 at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure Event.
  • The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is set to expire on September 30, 2026, giving lawmakers the chance to introduce amendments.

The players

Representative Sam Graves

The Republican chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who has proposed the new annual fee for electric vehicle owners.

Electrification Coalition

An advocacy group that has pushed back against previous proposals for EV fees, citing the relatively low average gas tax paid by internal combustion vehicle owners.

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What they’re saying

“We would like to get money from EVs.”

— Representative Sam Graves, Chair, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (Reuters)

“EVs can weigh up to three times as much as gas-powered cars, creating more wear and tear on our roads and bridges.”

— Senator Deb Fischer, Republican Senator from Nebraska (Reuters)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the ongoing debate around how to fund road and infrastructure maintenance as more drivers switch to electric vehicles that do not contribute to gas tax revenue. While EV owners may pay higher registration fees in some states, there are questions around whether they should pay a separate annual fee to help cover the costs of the infrastructure they use.