Tell me about your hybrid vehicle experiences

[tvguy]

Bike paths are part of the road system.

As far as what we're not supposed to talk about, I think things will sort out. We've quite a ways to go.

Bike paths are run by the Parks and Recreation people most places in California.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't know any of these acronyms, it's like clicks and beeps

PHEV = "Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle" Gas engine + battery which can be plugged in to charge.
BEV = "Battery Electric Vehicle" Fully Electric, plugged in to charge.
DC = "Direct Current": A type of electrical power.

 

[Lumpy1106]

At least in Georgia, since HB 170 passed in 2015, all state gas tax revenue goes to transportation, nothing goes to the general budget. Apparently that means that Georgia is one of the stricter states and might explain why it was also very early to the concept of an annual EV fee.

We were told that in CA too, but watch out! We passed a "road improvement tax" that was supposed to go to the roads 100%, but it was immediately taken to court. There is a historic court case that allowed 40% (!) of the tax to go to the general fund, so there is precedent to just do that on all "road improvement" taxes going forward...so they do.

Watch out #2 - CA is also "studying" a mileage tax, so no more freeloading for electric cars. Yeah, like they won't also apply that tax to gas cars, and they never study anything unless they are just testing to see if it will stick. They are going to do it, just a matter of when. CA charges a much higher vehicle licensing rate for electric cars to make up the difference already so don't buy that either. They get you coming, they get you going.

FWIW - don't buy for a second that cars do any damage to the roads. Buses and trucks yes, cars no. They are nowhere near heavy enough.

 

[Dan Murphy]

BEV = "Battery Electric Vehicle" Fully Electric, plugged in to charge.

Is there a difference between the usual acronym of an EV vs. a BEV?

 

[sam_gordon]

So California spends ~$5B to fix roads and bridges. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/17/c...e-roadways-new-alternative-transport-options/

California collected ~$8B in Gas taxes in 2024. https://cdtfa.ca.gov/DataPortal/charts.htm?url=FuelGasJetStats

 

[sam_gordon]

Is there a difference between the usual acronym of an EV vs. a BEV?

 

[kdonnel]

Watch out #2 - CA is also "studying" a mileage tax, so no more freeloading for electric cars. Yeah, like they won't also apply that tax to gas cars, and they never study anything unless they are just testing to see if it will stick. They are going to do it, just a matter of when. CA charges a much higher vehicle licensing rate for electric cars to make up the difference already so don't buy that either. They get you coming, they get you going.

I like the idea of a mileage tax replacing the current road taxes.

That way no matter how the vehicle is powered, electric, hydrogen, propane, gasoline, etc, it pays for every mile driven.

Ideally vehicles would get taxed based on actual miles driven, not some arbitrary average annual mileage like the current systems in place for EV. But I can see where people would cheat and lie and throw a fit if the cars self reported.

There has been very little freeloading for electric cars. 39 states charge EV owners an additional fee at annual registration to account for the lost gas tax.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I like the idea of a mileage tax replacing the current road taxes.

That way no matter how the vehicle is powered, electric, hydrogen, propane, gasoline, etc, it pays for every mile driven.

Ideally vehicles would get taxed based on actual miles driven, not some arbitrary average annual mileage like the current systems in place for EV. But I can see where people would cheat and lie and throw a fit if the cars self reported.

There has been very little freeloading for electric cars. 39 states charge EV owners an additional fee at annual registration to account for the lost gas tax.

"Replacing" would be OK, this is IN ADDITION TO the highest gas tax in the nation, plus the secondary tax we pay due to cap-and-trade taxes on the fuel suppliers (that are OF COURSE passed down to the consumers). That's why 2 refineries recently shut down - just too onerous to do business in CA. For comparison for all other states, cheapest gas price I could find this AM was $5.45/gal.

 

[bdrex28]

I drive an EV.

But your question is hybrid. My middle daughter has a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. It's been a fantastic car, she averages around 56mpg with 99.99999% city driving.

 

[bdrex28]

I like the idea of a mileage tax replacing the current road taxes.

That way no matter how the vehicle is powered, electric, hydrogen, propane, gasoline, etc, it pays for every mile driven.

Ideally vehicles would get taxed based on actual miles driven, not some arbitrary average annual mileage like the current systems in place for EV. But I can see where people would cheat and lie and throw a fit if the cars self reported.

There has been very little freeloading for electric cars. 39 states charge EV owners an additional fee at annual registration to account for the lost gas tax.

When I bought my EV I was charged around $120 or so. It was based on the Gross Vehicle Weight of the car.

Not a big deal and way better than paying taxes on every gallon of gas I'd ever buy

 

[tvguy]

"Replacing" would be OK, this is IN ADDITION TO the highest gas tax in the nation, plus the secondary tax we pay due to cap-and-trade taxes on the fuel suppliers (that are OF COURSE passed down to the consumers). That's why 2 refineries recently shut down - just too onerous to do business in CA. For comparison for all other states, cheapest gas price I could find this AM was $5.45/gal.

$5.18 here in Sacramento at ARCO