Electric cars should not be allowed to avoid paying taxes. On the contrary, they should pay according to how much they weigh. What was called a weight tax in Denmark until 1997.
British researchers argue that a vehicle tax based on the weight of the vehicle rather than its CO2 emissions would be a fairer solution. They believe that weight is a good indicator of the car's overall environmental impact.
This is what Car Magazine writes.
In a new book, "Critical Mass," Professor Felix Leach and Senior Researcher Nick Molden say that current tax systems favor heavy electric cars while penalizing lighter diesel cars.
– The weight of the car is a surprisingly good average indicator of total emissions, including greenhouse gases, air pollution, noise, safety and impact on infrastructure.
– Consumers can use this to choose a new car without being influenced by data from biased sources, write Leach and Molden.
Their proposal is to multiply the car's curb weight by the annual short distance. The result reflects the car's overall climate impact and can be used to calculate a more accurate vehicle tax.
Although electric cars do not emit CO2 while driving, they are not emission-free. The production of electric cars, especially the batteries, results in significant CO2 emissions.
Additionally, electric cars are on average 40 percent heavier than comparable gasoline and diesel cars. The added weight requires larger batteries, more material, and causes more wear on roads and tires.
The researchers argue that a weight tax will encourage consumers to choose lighter cars and drive less.
– By buying a car that weighs 150 kilograms less than average, you can save around 800 kroner, they write.
A saving of 800 kroner can also be achieved by driving 1,600 kilometers less per year. However, for many, it is more realistic to choose a lighter car than to reduce the need to drive.
A vehicle tax could potentially create a fairer system where all cars are taxed according to their overall environmental impact.
The current system, where CO2 emissions are the primary parameter, favors electric cars, even though they also have a significant environmental impact.
A vehicle tax will take into account both production-related emissions and the increased burden that heavy vehicles place on infrastructure and the environment.
