Wyoming started taxing EV drivers when they plug into charging stations around the state this month. Just a few weeks into the program, a coalition of EV advocates is asking the Wyoming Department of Transportation to pump the brakes on the new tax.
"We're just asking them to pause the program so that there can be some more stakeholder input," said Alicia Cox, executive director of Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities (YTCC).
"We're just hoping to improve the program to be beneficial for everyone,” she told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.
Cox emphasized that her organization is working collaboratively with WYDOT on the issue.
"The new program's high administrative burden has the potential to reduce or slow the rollout of much needed charging infrastructure in the state and EV owners are now paying duplicative taxes,” she said. "As we share similar goals with WYDOT, we think working together we'll come to a solution that is beneficial to everyone."
The Wyoming Department of Transportation began collecting the fuel tax on Oct. 1.
The agency says it’s enforcing an existing law and needs the revenue.
"I want to make note that this is not a new statute. The Legislature was very proactive about this," Jordan Young, WYDOT's deputy public affairs officer, told Cowboy State Daily. "However, it was not cost effective or an efficient use of staff time to collect fuel tax on EV chargers until now due to the lack of chargers in Wyoming and the lack of market share for EVs nationally."
WYDOT has identified about 135 charging stations statewide that are subject to the new requirements.
"Since this is a new program, we do not have any statistics on this at this time and do not want to speculate without any data," Young said. "Until they start reporting, we have no indication of station visits per day, power used per visit, etc.”
State Of EV?
According to WYDOT data, Wyoming has 1,231 registered electric vehicles.
Laramie County tops the list with 302 EVs, followed by Teton County with 244 and Natrona County with 115. Albany and Sheridan counties round out the top five with 98 and 56 registrations respectively.
Rural counties show minimal adoption, with Hot Springs, Johnson and Weston counties each having just two registered EVs, while Big Horn and Goshen counties have five each.
The recent WYDOT EV fuel tax rollout follows the failure of House Bill 24 during the last legislative session.
Sponsored by the Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee, the bill would have created a comprehensive framework for EV taxation while addressing the double taxation issue, according to its supporters.
When asked if WYDOT supported that legislation, Young responded that, "WYDOT does not take positions for or against legislation.”
Under the current implementation, charging station operators must pay $0.24 per gallon equivalent, calculated using a formula where 33.56 kilowatt hours equals one gallon of gasoline.
Station owners must also obtain a $25 annual license per location and meet monthly reporting requirements.
"Initially, the EV market was minimal, and Wyoming EV owners purchased annual decals with their vehicle registration to meet the fuel tax requirement," said Wayne Hassinger, Wyoming Fuel Tax Administration manager, in a press release. "With the expansion of EV ownership nationwide, there are more out-of-state EVs traveling Wyoming roads, so WYDOT is starting that collection process to ensure fair taxation."
'Double Tax'
Responding to concerns about double taxation, Young acknowledged that Wyoming EV owners pay a $200 registration fee, because it’s required under Wyoming law.
"Many EV owners charge their vehicles at home, and home charging is not subject to this tax," Young said. "Tourists in Wyoming do not pay the $200 decal fee. WYDOT cannot modify or make exceptions to the statute."
Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, who worked on the failed HB0024, recalled why the state implemented the $200 fee.
"We put that in 2019 to make up for the loss of fuel tax," Yin said. “So, charging more tax under this alternative fuel tax feels like double taxation."
Cox said Wyoming EV owners actually face what amounts to triple taxation under the current system, noting that EV drivers also pay sales tax on electricity dispensed at charging stations, while gasoline is exempt from sales tax.
Unintended Consequences
Yin worried hotels and businesses offering free charging as an amenity face particular challenges, as many stations lack meters to track electricity usage.
"What will likely happen is some of those charging stations, rather than pay a tax, these folks are probably just going to remove their (charging) station," he predicted.
Patrick Lawson, CEO of Wild West EV, which operates 20 charging stations in Wyoming, echoed these concerns.
"There might be a lot of stations that are going to have to be shut down," Lawson said.
Despite the challenges, Lawson said his business continues to grow.
"We started in 2016, and we've been adding a few stations a year ever since. We're seeing 20% to 30% every year in growth,” he said.
The rollout of Wyoming’s EV tax came just as federal tax credits worth thousands of dollars expired Sept. 30.
The $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles and the $4,000 credit for used EVs both ended due to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed earlier in 2025.
Despite the tax challenges, Cox noted significant infrastructure development across Wyoming and the Greater Yellowstone region.
"There's actually a lot of movement in Wyoming and in our region for alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure," Cox said, citing a new DC fast-charging station that opened in Lander last week, plus millions of dollars in infrastructure funding for the Jackson area and Idaho Falls.
"DC fast-charging station expansion in Wyoming is worth celebrating! Last week we joined @fremontmotorslander and @landerclimateaction with outreach materials supporting the ribbon cutting and ride and drive event," Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities posted on Instagram.
Cox, who drives an all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 9 with 330 miles of range and previously owned a Chevrolet Volt for 12 years, said the organization will discuss charging infrastructure at its fall stakeholder meeting Oct. 28 in Driggs, Idaho. The group will also be in Pinedale this week for an EV charging station planning session.
David Madison can be reached at david@cowboystatedaily.com.
