FDU Poll finds strong support for EV fees

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Fairleigh Dickinson University is out with a new poll showing that a majority of New Jerseyans back the recent Transportation Trust Fund legislation signed into law. The move, which calls for an annual electric vehicle fee for drivers, drew support by a more than a 2-to-1 margin.

The Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey sponsored the poll. Conducted between April 1-8, 2024, it contacted 809 registered voters in New Jersey about issues pertaining to transportation funding.

The legislation signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in March extended the TTF for five years while raising the gas tax 2 cents per year over five years. EV drivers will now be charged an annual fee on top of their normal yearly registrations, starting July 1. This year, the charge is $250. Subsequently, it will rise $10 per year until it reaches $290. Funded through the gas tax, the TTF is used for road, bridge and highway construction, as well as supplying capital funding for NJ Transit projects.

Topline findings from the poll include:

• 65% support additional fees on electric vehicles while 29% oppose.
• Both major political parties showed majority support (72% among Republicans, 63% among Democrats), while older voters are more likely to support the fee than younger ones.
• 59% want gas tax and vehicle registration revenues dedicated toward funding for roads and bridges, rather than used to subsidize NJ Transit; 35% support also using gas tax money for NJ Transit.
• 51% of Democrats support using gas tax money for NJ Transit, versus 60% of independents and 78% of Republicans who oppose.
• Support for using gas tax money for NJ Transit was highest (44%) in the urban core counties of Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex and Union – but, even there, 51% said just roads and bridges should utilize the monies.

Dan Cassino is a professor of government and politics at FDU and executive director of the poll. He described the question of extra fees on EVs as interesting.

“Because it requires a trade-off between environmental initiatives and road maintenance – both things that NJ residents generally support,” said Cassino. “But when push comes to shove, voters care more about keeping the roads maintained.”

Sharing the road

Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey Executive Vice President Eric DeGesero applauded the TTF legislation. He said that these poll results reaffirm the decision by the governor and Legislature to ensure that everyone who uses the state’s roads, highways and bridges is paying into them.

“EVs’ don’t pay into the gas tax and are currently exempt from paying the sales tax, yet they put heavy wear and tear on our roads and bridges due to the excessive weight of their car batteries,” said DeGesero. “As our state looks to fund the Transportation Trust Fund in the years to come, it only makes sense to ensure that owners of expensive EVs pay their fair share.”

On the question of using gas tax money for NJ Transit, Cassino noted that agency funding has been a recurring issue here in New Jersey.

“Ticket fees are never going to be enough to support the system – but people who don’t use NJ Transit just don’t see a reason why they should have to pay for it,” Cassino explained.

DeGesero said that a majority of voters understand that it doesn’t make sense to siphon off more money from our roads and bridges to subsidize a fiscally dysfunctional NJ Transit system.

“Despite its fiscal woes, NJ Transit receives revenue from a variety of funding sources, including $440 million in NJ Turnpike toll revenue in the 2024 fiscal year,” said DeGesero. “We cannot jeopardize our roads and bridges or force drivers to pay more – especially since NJ Transit is used daily by only one in 10 New Jerseyans. NJ Transit needs to figure out how to live within its own means.”

The full poll results are available here.