Agreed, I always think that all these taxes should indeed just go through fuel. Want a bigger, heavier, more polluting car? Want to drive like a F1 driver? Fine, you pay more. Want to drive a long distance? You'll pay per distance*car_size. Want to go electric? You'll pay tax on electricity in concordance with it's economic price and influence on the planet.
One problem in the EU is is that this would need to be rolled out across the EU, because we already have large difference in price ranges for fuel leading to weird situations neer the border.
> Want to go electric? You'll pay tax on electricity in concordance with it's economic price and influence on the planet.
The problem is that generic electrical consumption is not (unlike gasoline pumped at a gas-station) a decent proxy for how heavily the purchaser occupies and wears-down roads.
In turn, it makes it harder to connect fair (proportional) amounts to fix the roads.
That is true. Idk how to tax that. Through the tires? Would also stimulate going for durable ones. Although electric cars produce much less breaking dust, contributing to clean air again. Okok, it's complicated. Just tax anything based on it's environmental impact, then add some percentage for the roads?
> Agreed, I always think that all these taxes should indeed just go through fuel. Want a bigger, heavier, more polluting car? Want to drive like a F1 driver? Fine, you pay more.
That already happens in some states. I have a performance car, and in Washington that came with a "gas guzzler tax" built in to the purchase breakdown, so I paid a lump sum (in addition to the ongoing higher fuel costs).
One problem in the EU is is that this would need to be rolled out across the EU, because we already have large difference in price ranges for fuel leading to weird situations neer the border.