A federal highway funding bill could soon slap electric vehicle owners in Hawaii with a new yearly fee, which is bad news for the state's EV drivers but helps fix a funding gap for road repairs.

• Congress is moving a transportation bill that would charge EV owners at least $130 a year, rising $5 annually up to $150.
• Plug-in hybrid owners would pay a smaller $35 annual fee.
• The fee is meant to make up for gas tax money that EV drivers skip since they don't buy gasoline.
• Hawaii already has over 42,000 EVs on the road, so many drivers could be affected.
• Current transportation funding runs out next month, so the new fee could start as early as December.

Outlook: If the bill passes as written, Hawaii EV owners could start paying the new fee by December.