Out with EV Rebates - In with ICE tax

Charge fees on Internal Combustion Engines to reduce them

One of Trump's first executive orders seeks to cancel federal EV rebates.

A broken clock is right twice a day, and I believe time has come to transition from "rebates" of the outcome we want, to taxing the outcome we don't want - in this case Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). Rebates are a powerful tool to start a market and encourage technology development, but all major vehicle manufacturers now sell all-electric vehicles. In short, the market is developed and it is a prime time to transition to taxes on ICE engines.

Legislation Request: I would propose a sliding scale sales tax that is based on engine volume (cubic centimeters) - or rated horsepower (whichever is greater). Something like $5 per cc, or $15 per horsepower over 100. It would be reasonable to phase in 10% each quarter over 2.5 years.

This fee would apply equally to vehicles, gas generators, lawn mowers - anything that's a combustion engine. By scaling the fee based engine output this would also help mitigate overpowered and excessively heavy gas vehicles.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/business/trump-ev-subsidies.html
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/