“The post critiques Alberta’s plan to impose an annual $200 tax on electric vehicles (EVs) starting in January 2025, arguing that the rationale behind it is flawed. The government justifies the tax by stating EVs are heavier than similar internal combustion vehicles, causing more road wear and tear. However, the author counters this argument by referring to the Fourth Power Law, which states that road damage is proportional to the fourth power of the axle weight. Through calculations comparing vehicles like the Toyota Corolla, Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3, and F150, the author demonstrates that heavier vehicles, especially gas-powered ones like the F150, cause significantly more road damage but do not pay proportionately higher road taxes under the current system. The post argues that the $200 EV tax does not address this imbalance fairly, as it does not consider actual road damage caused by vehicle weight, ultimately suggesting that both the old and new tax systems unfairly subsidize heavier, more damaging vehicles at the expense of lighter ones.”
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“The post critiques Alberta’s plan to impose an annual $200 tax on electric vehicles (EVs) starting in January 2025, arguing that the rationale behind it is flawed. The government justifies the tax by stating EVs are heavier than similar internal combustion vehicles, causing more road wear and tear. However, the author counters this argument by referring to the Fourth Power Law, which states that road damage is proportional to the fourth power of the axle weight. Through calculations comparing vehicles like the Toyota Corolla, Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla Model 3, and F150, the author demonstrates that heavier vehicles, especially gas-powered ones like the F150, cause significantly more road damage but do not pay proportionately higher road taxes under the current system. The post argues that the $200 EV tax does not address this imbalance fairly, as it does not consider actual road damage caused by vehicle weight, ultimately suggesting that both the old and new tax systems unfairly subsidize heavier, more damaging vehicles at the expense of lighter ones.”