Comment Re:How do they do it? (Score 1) 686
Keep in mind that gas or electric, if you drive on the publicly funded roads, you should in someway support their upkeep.
Easy, just keep raising the per-gallon taxes as the fleet average increases. Revenue is the same, and maybe fewer people will buy 12 mpg vehicles they don't need.
Or as a twist, raise the speed limit significantly; the people with the 12 mpg cars will go faster (that's what people like that do), "achieve" 8 mpg, buy more gas & raise revenue for the state, courtesy of existing gas taxes. Remember, this is about a shortfall, not a way to punish hybrid/electric vehicles. Yes I'm sure there will be extra wear & tear on the roads, but also new purchases for things like tires, oil; anything associated with more convenient long trips (camping equipment, bed & breakfast/hotel reservations, concert/Blazer tickets, etc.) and of course gas, all of which raise revenue for the state, directly or indirectly. IIRC, last spring the OR legislature was debating raising the speed limit. I say let the well-to-do give the money that the rest of us need, and both can enjoy life. Win-win