1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the recently proposed legislation that targets EV owners with significant new financial burdens and restricts consumer choice in the automotive market. Specifically, I urge you to reject Senate Bill 3566, which proposes a 1.5-cent-per-mile road usage fee or a $320 annual surcharge, and Senate Bill 1939, which seeks to ban direct-to-consumer sales for future EV manufacturers. While maintaining our state’s infrastructure is vital, these measures are a significant reversal in Illinois' commitment to clean energy and will have several negative implications: Financial Burden: The proposed $320 annual fee, when added to the existing $151 registration fee, would force EV owners to pay a minimum of $471 per year. This far exceeds what the average gas-powered vehicle owner pays in fuel taxes. This effectively penalizes residents who have invested in cleaner technology. Stifling EV Adoption: Adding significant upfront and ongoing costs creates a broken promise for those who switched to EVs based on state incentives. Research indicates that such fees can push consumers back toward gas-powered vehicles, increasing long-term climate pollution. Privacy Concerns: The installation of tracking devices in personal vehicles, raising significant privacy and civil liberty concerns regarding the state's ability to monitor resident movement. Economic Inconsistency: These bills contradict the goals of the REV Illinois Act, which aims to make Illinois a hub for EV manufacturing. Restricting the business models of the very companies we are trying to attract sends a confusing and hostile message to the industry. I strongly urge you to consider more equitable ways to fund road maintenance that do not disproportionately target early adopters of green technology. Please vote NO on these measures to keep Illinois on a path toward a sustainable future.