This is, in essence, a decade-long investigation into how to fairly tax vehicles for the road wear they cause in California, with a specific focus on minimal-effort user experience for vehicle operators. I participated in the previous phase and I wish I could with the current phase. I would specifically encourage vehicle-operating HN folks who are still in California to sign up for this.
The next test is an NFC badge that works on gas pumps and lets you enter your mileage at the pump (I think), and two other ideas that I don’t remember. They’ve also considered random drive-through mileage spot checks every couple years for electric cars, and you get sale mileage on the transfer form, and they know full well some people don’t want to be tracked to varying degrees and have plans for that.
They’re studying this for all cars, not just electric, to replace the road maintenance component of the gas tax. Charging at home circumvents any charging tax. Driving your own vehicle out of state for a thousand miles will overcharge you on a simple odometer tax.
It’s a ten year research project. They aren’t shipping anything. They’re running through a long list of ideas and asking people what they think of them and if they want to try them.
They will send you surveys about their ideas and read anything you write and take it seriously in their studies. You have to own a vehicle and live in California, though.
