They could, of course, simply RAISE THE GAS TAX to cover electric vehicles and that would fix the problem for at least the next 20 years...and they know that. (and after 20 years, simply charge a flat road-use fee to register electric cars)
But that is NOT what’s going on. They know there’s a limit to how high they can get away with on the gas tax - but there’s virtually NO LIMIT on what they can charge with road pricing. It’s a new revenue stream and people very easily could wind up paying more to drive on roads than they pay in income and sales taxes combined.
But they need their foot in the door, and that’s why they keep pressing to get it started and making excuses like grandma’s Prius is breaking their bank, when that is NOT the case, not even close.
Take it from a Canadian: Americans aren’t even close to half-way to the height of gas taxes the government can get away with.
Flat road-use fees are simple — and, that’s their only virtue. A fair tax would be proportionate to the cost that each vehicle imposes on the road system. That means that the distance travelled must be factored in. Also, in the case of heavy commercial vehicles, the GVW should be a factor.