The sale of electric vehicles (EV) in Georgia will generate $54 million in income and $100 million to the state’s gross domestic product, according to a report conducted by nonprofit consumer group Plug In America.
The funds would be generated through the implementation of a lower EV user fee on EV drivers’ registration and a new $2,500 tax credit applied over five years.
The tax credit would apply to plug-in hybrid and battery electric EVs.
In 2015, Georgia repealed its Zero Emissions Vehicle tax credit and began a $200 user fee. EV sales have since plunged 90 percent.
“More EVs on the road in Georgia will drive new jobs and income to the state, as the report shows,” Katherine Stainken, policy director for Plug In America, said. “Across the country, many states have already implemented supportive policies for EVs, like tax credits, that are proven to drive the growth of new markets. Drivers that go electric shouldn’t be punished with hefty user fees either.”
There are 21,000 EVs registered in Georgia, and prior to 2015, more Nissan LEAFs were sold in Georgia than any other state.
Additional benefits to EV use include reduced healthcare costs from improved air quality and a decreased reliance on oil, the report said.