What Happened?

If you drive an electric car or are thinking about buying one, Hyundai is lobbying Congress on a highway bill that would charge you a new $130 yearly federal fee. The automaker reported $390,000 in lobbying spending from July through September, down from $620,000 a year earlier, according to its federal lobbying report and a Legis1 review of the filing. ​

That total includes what Hyundai pays outside firms, including Chartwell Strategy Group, which reported $180,000, and Steptoe, which reported $80,000. The filing lists electric vehicle infrastructure and tax incentives, self-driving cars, the highway funding bill, connected-car security and auto tariffs.

Why Does It Matter To Me?

The House version of that bill, the BUILD America 250 Act, would charge electric vehicle owners $130 a year and plug-in hybrid owners $35, rising by $5 every two years starting in 2029. Plug In America estimates the average gasoline car pays about $85 a year in federal gas tax, which hasn’t gone up since 1993.

Electric car buyers already lost federal help. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act ended the new, used and commercial clean vehicle tax credits for vehicles bought after Sept. 30, 2025.

Imported cars also cost more. A 25% tariff on imported autos took effect in 2025, and a November 2025 deal with South Korea cut that rate to 15% for Korean-built vehicles, according to a Congressional Research Service summary updated Sept. 17. President Donald Trump threatened in January to raise it back to 25%.

Both Sides, Now

Supporters argue electric vehicle drivers should help pay for roads, since the Highway Trust Fund relies mostly on gas taxes they don’t pay. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated the fees would raise about $30 billion over a decade, and the American Society of Civil Engineers backs the bill.

Plug In America said the bill “punishes EV drivers.” The Electrification Coalition called the fees “punitive” and said the bill would gut the two main federal programs that pay for public charging stations.

What Happens Next?

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the bill 62 to 2 in May, but it hasn’t reached the House floor, and no Senate committee has released its own version. Congress extended current highway programs through Friday, Dec. 11.

Lawmakers return Monday, Nov. 9, with that deadline weeks away.

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