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"Annual PEV fee"

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by knightofdight, Feb 4, 2018.

  1. knightofdight

    knightofdight New Member

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    So in doing my research to try to decide between a Prius Four and a Prius Prime, I came across something troubling. My state, TN, charges a $100 annual fee for registration of an electric vehicle. They state that "low and medium speed vehicles are exempted."

    My question is, where does the Prime fall in that? If I have to pay $100 a year just because it is a plug-in car, it almost completely negates the fuel savings I am getting and I am better off just buying the Four. :mad:

    EDIT: Upon actually reading the bill itself, the verbage is "For purposes of this section, "electric vehicle" means a passenger or commercial motor vehicle with an electric motor as its sole means of propulsion; provided, however, that "electric vehicle" does not include a "low speed vehicle" as defined in § 55-1-122 or a "medium speed vehicle" as defined in § 55-1-125"

    So, based on that, the Prime should be safe from this fee. I hope.
     
    #1 knightofdight, Feb 4, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2018
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  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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  3. knightofdight

    knightofdight New Member

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    Definitely. The states claim that the money is meant to help repair roads, since electric cars are paying less gas tax... but... The percentage of electric cars out there is very, very small. I agree that it is just an effort to cull the green auto movement, because it is bad for Big Oil.
     
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  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I agree.
     
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  5. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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  6. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    So do you have to pay $100 for an electric golf cart?
     
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  7. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    No, the BIG OIL guys plays golf, it would be against their best interest. lol

    They have rules that low speed vehicles are exempt.
     
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  9. knightofdight

    knightofdight New Member

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    Yep that is ultimately what I will have to do, just to be crystal clear. But, the way the bill itself is written, it states "In vehicles where an electric engine is the sole means of propulsion" so I would think that would exclude plug-in hybrids.
     
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah would seem so. But, as I just happened to hear on our radio: "keep your hand on your wallet, and count the silverware", lol.

    My thought: regardless of what they're saying, if they want to make some serious revenue, they're going to include everything using any amount of electric propulsion, since there's precious few pure-electric vehicles out there as yet.
     
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  11. knightofdight

    knightofdight New Member

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    Yep, that is what I am afraid of. The fee clearly does NOT include hybrid cars, but it seems like plug-in hybrids are a gray area. I will need to call to make sure. If I will have to pay the $100 annual fee, I sadly feel that it would be a smarter decision to just get the Four.

    Who would I even call for that anyway? The county clerk? The DMV?
     
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  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    The link posted is the Department of Revenue. While you are talking to them see if you can show them the contradictions on their page. The titles mention hybrids but the law quote excludes them.
     
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  13. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    Just tell them you never plan to charge up.
     
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  14. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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    At our Ag fair every year, there are vendors marketing 'low speed' vehicles. Many of them are electric, and they are exempted from much of the Auto Industry regulations. These vehicles often have a top speed of 30mph. They can not go onto some roads.

    Full speed vehicles can be driven on the interstate freeways and must comply with all safety regulations.
     
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  15. Washingtonian

    Washingtonian Senior Member

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    If you live in a state where roads are built and maintained with funds from a tax on motor fuels and you have a vehicle that uses no gasoline or diesel fuel, do you feel that you can share the roads but not the cost of maintaining them? I suspect that the law was passed to get the owners of Teslas to pay their fair share.
     
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  16. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Yes I do,

    200,000lb Sand mining and forestry equipment is responsible for most road damage in my area but pays no road tax

    I’m not sure how much damage my 1800lb car does nor my 3200 lb car but I’m guessing my fair share isn’t much compared to the tax except road trains going to the depot.

    Even semis in this area can simply “write off” the cost of fuel this paying no road tax.

    Close those loopholes then maybe we can reconsider what lightweight cars that don’t cause road damage should be paying
     
  17. knightofdight

    knightofdight New Member

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    This is exactly why I consider the State's argument of "the additional revenue generated by these fees is needed for us complete roadwork projects" to be complete bologna.
     
  18. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Sorry, but -all- vehicles driven on the roads cause some damage/wear. Paying a "fair share" is pretty much obvious. Oh, and if you think $100 is too much, better check up how much a PU truck or even a "standard" Prius pays in fuel tax per year. It's a lot more. Oh, and while you're at it check how much it actually costs to build or repair a road. It's crazy expensive.
    And if you still object, I don't want to hear any of you complaining about the terrible potholes or the bridges that keep falling down.
     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, but doesn't it burn you up, that gas consumed equates to your share? How about vehicle class and miles travelled?
     
  20. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    To be fair there are a lot of other cost to maintaining our highways than just paving.
    If you drive a new car in Indiana you pay more for your license plates. The more the new car cost the more you pay. My new Prius is about $300 a year.

    My biggest problem is I buy eight car plates and have two trailers.
     
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