Extending the date of implementation of a new kilowatt-hour (kW/hr) fee on electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, Georgia Governor Kemp has signed HB 516 into law. With this delay, the state and owners of charging stations will have more time to prepare and put the required measures in place in order to start collecting the new tax.
In response to SB 146, which was passed in 2023 and imposed a new tax on EV charging, HB 516 has been extended. This measure will impose taxes on the use of public chargers everywhere, including in government buildings and businesses.
The excise tax, which is expected to cost up to $2.70 for a full charge, is in addition to the $214 that Georgian EV owners already pay for their annual EV registration. The state’s numerous efforts to encourage EV and battery manufacturing are undermined by these rising taxes, which makes EV adoption less appealing.
Georgia resident and Electrification Coalition VP of Policy Anne Blair, said, “Electric vehicles offer significant benefits to all Georgians. They reduce our dependence on oil, improve our economic and national security, and contribute to cleaner air. We commend Governor Kemp for his ongoing commitment to vehicle electrification, which includes supporting manufacturing investments and job creation within the state. The enactment of HB 516 will help preserve these benefits and allow for further assessment of the new tax that we hope will reduce the burden on consumers and communities and ensure Georgia’s EV market remains on a positive trajectory.”
