Interesting. The proposed tax shift seems to discourage use of efficient vehicles, but a quick comparison seems to prove otherwise.
Here is my situation. I drive few miles and have many vehicles but the sake of this argument, let's limit it to 3. I have an F150, a Mirage, and a 50 cc scooter.
|
F150 |
Mirage |
Ruckus |
Total |
|
miles/yr |
1000 |
4000 |
1500 |
6500 |
|
mpg |
12 |
38 |
80 |
|
|
gallons gas / yr |
83 |
105 |
19 |
207 |
|
total gas $ / yr |
$208 |
$263 |
$47 |
$518 |
*A $2.50/g |
gas tax |
$40 |
$51 |
$9 |
$100 |
*B |
gas $ no tax |
$168 |
$212 |
$38 |
$418 |
*C |
alt $/m tax |
$24 |
$96 |
$36 |
$156 |
*D |
delta tax |
$(16) |
$45 |
$27 |
$56 |
*E |
Scenario 1 miles |
610 |
4000 |
1890 |
|
|
gas cost |
$117 |
$308 |
$93 |
$518 |
*F |
Scenario 2 miles |
513 |
4487 |
1500 |
|
|
gas cost |
$98 |
$346 |
$74 |
$518 |
*G |
Scenario 3 miles |
1000 |
4983 |
517 |
|
|
gas cost |
$74 |
$317 |
$127 |
$518 |
*H |
So, according to the row marked *A, at $2.50 / gallon I am paying $518 / yr for gas.
You can see the difference in tax per vehicle from the gas tax to the proposed mile tax by reviewing row E.
The question I had was how would I have to modify my driving habits to stay at the same tax rate.
Row F shows that if I maintain 4000 miles on the Mirage, it adds mileage to the Ruckus and subtracts from the F150 to arrive at the same gas cost.
Row G - fixed Ruckus mileage favors the Mirage to add miles.
Row H - fixed F150 mileage favors the Mirage.
It appears that the alternate tax structure still favors highly efficient vehicles, except for the 3rd case. Not sure why that happens.