Taxes could toss sand in gears of Georgia governor’s drive to become electric vehicle capital

An electric vehicle charges up at a Georgia Power station located in the parking lot of a Burger King in Columbus. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder)

If Georgia lawmakers want to help Gov. Brian Kemp achieve his goal to make the state the electric vehicle capital of the nation, they have an odd way of showing it.

Georgia bills that would drastically shift how much electric vehicle owners pay to recharge their cars is expected to receive a final vote before this year’s Legislative session wraps up on Wednesday.

The statewide convenience store association, environmental nonprofits and many drivers of battery-powered cars are among those supporting charging electric vehicle drivers to recharge their vehicles in the same manner that drivers of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles pay to refuel at the pump. Legislation in the state House and Senate would convert the cost of charging for electric cars to a calculation based on the kilowatt hour instead of how long it takes to refill the battery.