Electric Cars Are Heavy — And Researchers Want Them Taxed for It.
Electric cars shouldn’t be exempt from vehicle taxes, argue British researchers. Instead, they propose that taxes be based on vehicle weight.
According to
Car Magazine, Professor Felix Leach and Senior Researcher Nick Molden suggest that a weight-based tax would better reflect a vehicle’s overall environmental impact compared to the current CO2 emission-focused systems.
In their new book,
Critical Mass, Leach and Molden explain that heavier vehicles, including electric cars, have a greater impact on greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, road wear, and safety risks.
“The weight of the car is a surprisingly good average indicator of total emissions, including greenhouse gases, air pollution, noise, safety, and impact on infrastructure,” the researchers
Leach and Molden propose a straightforward formula: multiply a car's curb weight by the distance it’s driven annually. This would provide a more accurate measure of the car's overall climate impact and could be used to calculate vehicle taxes.
While electric cars produce no CO2 during driving, their production—especially of the batteries—generates significant emissions. Moreover, electric cars are typically 40% heavier than their gasoline or diesel counterparts due to the larger batteries required.
The current system, which primarily considers CO2 emissions, favors electric cars,
even though their production and weight-related impacts are significant.
