Rising curb weights of new-energy vehicles have renewed debate in China over
whether EVs should pay road-maintenance fees. Several industry insiders say
Chinese regulators are studying proposals to reallocate road-maintenance charges
and to reform broader auto tax and fee structures to match the evolving
industry. Officials aim to move policy from explicit industry support toward
cost-sharing, which could see EV tax exemptions gradually phased down. Wang
Ning, director of the Automotive Industry and Technology Strategy Center at
Tongji University, said “oil and electricity parity” is a long-term trend. Cui
Dongshu, CPCA secretary-general and an early proponent of converting road levies
into taxes, said the fuel-linked road-fee system is now structurally unbalanced
and needs upgrade.
