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An electric vehicle advocacy group, the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA), has proposed a “double tax” for drivers of petrol and diesel cars to offset pollution costs. Currently, every litre of fuel is taxed around 51 cents as excise. AEVA suggests adding a road user charge based on distance travelled and vehicle weight, in addition to existing fuel taxes. For example, under the proposed system, a Toyota HiLux travelling 13,000km annually would pay $823, while a lighter Suzuki Swift Sport driving the same distance would pay $379. Energy Minister Chris Bowen supports the concept but emphasizes careful implementation and timing.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Claims extracted
17
claim-shaped sentences
Uncertain
12%
2 of 17 hedged
Leaning
Leans left
of the writing, not the subject
Correction & hedging signals
58.6
corrections and hedging in what we collected;
not a measure of accuracy
Outlets on this story
1
Environment
Narrative spread
1
articles carrying this framing
Story summary
The Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) proposed on Wednesday that drivers of petrol and diesel cars should pay a "double tax" to cover both fuel excise and a new road user charge. Currently, a fuel excise of around 51 cents per litre is applied to every litre of petrol and diesel sold in Australia. With the rise in electric and hybrid vehicles, AEVA advocates for a system where all drivers contribute fairly to road maintenance based on distance travelled and vehicle weight. The proposal would see owners of traditional cars paying both fuel excise taxes and an additional road user charge, effectively doubling their costs associated with pollution and road use. Energy Minister Chris Bowen acknowledged broad support for a road user charge but did not specifically address the double-tax suggestion. AEVA's policy convenor Dr Chris Jones emphasized that the group seeks to ensure fair funding of roads while encouraging more environmentally friendly vehicles.
Written for “Car Pollution Tax Proposal” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.35 for article 15310 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-17
A leading electric vehicle (EV) advocacy group has called for drivers of petrol and diesel cars to face what it describes as a 'double tax' to offset 'the cost of their pollution'.
asserted
it → lead → pollution
Under the current rules, a fuel excise is applied to every litre of petrol and diesel sold in Australia, adding around 51 cents to each litre.
However, with the increasing popularity of fully-electric and hybrid vehicles, which use little to no fuel, advocates have called for a new system to ensure all drivers fairly fund their road usage.
asserted
drivers → apply → usage
Under the Australian Electric Vehicle Association's (AEVA) proposal, announced on Wednesday, drivers of petrol and diesel cars would pay fuel excise in addition to a universally applied road user charge, creating what the organisation describes as a 'double tax'.
asserted
organisation → announce → tax
The proposal also called for a road user charge based on distance travelled and weight to apply in addition to the existing fuel excise tax, rather than replacing it.
asserted
charge → call → it
AEVA's policy convenor Dr Chris Jones said the group wasn't looking for 'a free ride'.
asserted
group → say → ride
'If two vehicles weigh the same and are driven the same distance each year, it's only fair that they pay the same road user charge,' Dr Jones said.
asserted
Jones → weigh → charge
'But if one of those vehicles burns petrol or diesel, they should pay for the cost of that pollution too.'
The Australian Electric Vehicle Association has called for drivers of petrol and diesel cars to face a 'double tax'
Energy Minister Chris Bowen said there is broad support for a road user charge
Dr Jones said the idea would accurately price road wear while also incentivising lighter and more efficient vehicles.
asserted
idea → burn → vehicles
According to Nine's Drive publication, AEVA's proposal would calculate an annual road user charge by multiplying a vehicle's weight and the number of kilometres it travels each year by a rate of three cents.
uncertain
it → accord → cents
For a 2.1-tonne 2026 Toyota HiLux SR5 dual-cab travelling 13,000km per year, this would equate to an $823 road user charge.
asserted
this → travel → charge
By comparison, drivers of a 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport weighing 970kg would pay $379.
asserted
drivers → weigh → 379
It comes as the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the idea of a road user charge was supported by the EV industry.
asserted
idea → come → industry
'I think a road user charge is something that Australia should be working towards.
asserted
Australia → think → that
It's got to be done right.
asserted
It → get → ?
It's got to be done carefully, and that includes timing.
asserted
that → get → timing
It should not be rushed unnecessarily,' Bowen said last month.
asserted
Bowen → rush → ?
That's why it wasn't in the budget [in May 2026] because it needs more work.
uncertain
it → need → work
It's a conversation that we'll continue to have.'
asserted
we → continue → that
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