Read It! Drivers of electric cars may have left the gas pumps behind. Another expense, however, may be unavoidable:
paying to maintain roads. After years of encouraging residents to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles, lawmakers in
Washington state are considering a proposal to charge owners of electric cars an annual fee. Typically, drivers pay
a fuel tax that is added to the cost of each gallon (3.8 liters) of gasoline purchased. In Washington state, this costs
the average driver about $200 per year. Driving electric vehicles, however, eliminates trips to the gas station. This
is causing problems in Washington and elsewhere because state governments rely on gas taxes to subsidize road
maintenance and improvement.
Do It!
The electric cars affect Washington state's
А
initiative
B
commuters
C compliance
D budgeting