Quarterhill Inc T.QTRH

RE: Opportunity for IRD - taxing trucks - others have tried!

[mrmoribund]

Interesting. This kind of change will be accelerated, for two reasons, by the shift from gas to electric vehicles (though it would likely happen anyways as new tech makes it workable).

(1) Electric vehicles (including electric trucks) weigh significantly more than their gas-powered counterparts. Technology might ultimately reduce the gap somewhat but right now electric vehicles are HEAVY and present a threat to highway infrastructure (think bridges especially).

(2) As we shift to electric vehicles the gas tax is going to disappear. Governments are going to need to replace that $$$. Get ready for a future where most cars are electric and every highway has automated tolling.

[Justhalffull]

Battery technology will eliminate the current heavy battery packs with string cell batteries.  This will allow flexibility is how much battery weight you wish to carry, using just enough for the range to be travelled.  In addition, no need to stop for hours to recharge.  String cells can be swapped out faster than it takes to pump fuel to fill the tanks.  Charge the battery not

[cabbieJBJ]

Point #2 is the elephant in the room mrmoribund.  You are right, it will happen; not right away, but sooner rather than later.  Having the infrastructure in place to tap the revenue is not dependent on full conversion ot electric vehicles by any means.  I took a look at California in order to put some dimension on the $$$.  Latest numbers show that CA collected

[Iwannaberich17]

oh great point - i didn't know that the weight of electric vehicles being heavier than gasoline powered ones.  

[Justhalffull]

Weight is a huge factor in the transportation business.  To increase payload (the stuff you haul for money) you need to reduce to the greatest extent possible all the other weight you haul.  Just as an aircraftr only loads enough fuel to complete their flight with a bit extra for security purposes, you do not want to carry extra weight in a truck, as the amount you can haul (payload) is