The Nova Scotia government is going to start charging more to use electric vehicles.

Months after the province ended the EV rebate program, the government will tax drivers every two years.

The province’s budget includes a 500 hundred dollar fee for full electric vehicles, and 250 for hybrids.

Premier Tim Houston says these drivers need to pay their share for road maintenance.

“The vehicles are generally a lot heavier, so they have quite a bit more wear and tear. The owners of those vehicles should pay something towards that,” said the Premier.

NDP leader Claudia Chender says that passenger vehicles generally don’t cause the most wear and tear on our roads, and it’s wrong to impose fees on those drivers.

Electric vehicle owners can expect to start paying the additional tax October 1st.