January 1st isn’t just about making resolutions and looking back on the previous year’s accomplishments. For most states, it is also a time for recently passed laws to be enacted. In some states, those are related to electric vehicles (EVs).
Wisconsin: The state will now impose a new tax on EV charging stations, collected by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to cover state-wide road maintenance. There will now be an excise tax of three cents per kilowatt-hour for the electricity used to charge EVs. Charger owners and operators must also register their stations with state agencies, except residential chargers, which are not covered by the new law.
Oregon: State agencies must now ensure that all new light-duty fleet vehicle purchases or leases must be either be battery-electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or hydrogen fuel cell.
Virgina: Following an announcement at the beginning of 2024 that the state would mandate that all new cars sold would be electric vehicles by 2035, Governor Youngkin reversed the decision, stating they would now enforce this in 2025, which would have also required OEMs to pay a fine upwards of $20,000 per vehicle sold if it was found to be out of compliance.
Vermont: Starting January 1, registered EV owners will begin paying an annual fee of $89, which will be used to cover the costs of installing EV charging ports at workplaces and multi-unit residential complexes.
Colorado: Colorado’s EV tax credit was cut from $5,000 to $3,500 starting in 2025.
