Governor Kemp has signed HB 516 into law, extending the implementation date of a new kilowatt-hour (kW/hr) tax on electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This extension gives the state and charging station hosts additional time to plan for and implement the necessary changes to collect the new tax.
The extension of HB 516 responds to SB 146, passed in 2023, which introduced a new tax on EV charging. Once implemented, this bill will tax all public charger use, including at government offices and workplaces. The excise tax, estimated at up to $2.70 for a full charge, adds to the approximately $214 annual EV registration fee already paid by Georgia EV owners. These increasing fees counteract many initiatives to support EV and battery manufacturing in the state, disincentivizing EV adoption.
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.”
