mudguard:

 

I wonder if RUCS for PHEV were based on weight (maybe like all vehicles will be), size of battery and perhaps fuel tank?

 

I guess the gist would be if the PHEV had a very small battery chances are you may drive and use mostly petrol, or vice versa, a larger battery would suggest you do more driving on pure electric and therefore had a lower RUC charge?

 

I don't know, I honestly think RUCS is a PIA compared to having it in the fuel paid for then and there. But there is probably no way of including it in an electric price. 

 

RUC's are already based on weight as mentioned on my post above.

Don't think the size of battery / fuel tank thing would fly. Too complex..., Quire possible for a shortish range PHEV with a big fuel tank to use very little fuel, while running up reasonable mileages. Especially if somebody commutes near it's range, charging at both ends.

And it creates a perverse incentive to sell PHEV's with shorter electric range and big gas tanks. Does your RUC rate change if you retrofit a long range petrol tank?

Fairest way is the to just let the current law stand, and have PHEV's pay RUC, but be eligible to claim back petrol tax. But this does generate a lot of paperwork.

RUC's are more hassle than having tax built into petrol for sure, but not so much to rule it out as idea. You can buy a years worth once a year if you want... But it is one more thing to track or set a calendar reminder to check.

Of course RUC's have their own issue's. Especially in an era where some car's odometers are fairly easy to change.

Diesel car's tend to be bigger, more expensive stuff, the need to buy RUC's in 1000km blocks (and with the transaction fee meaning that buying larger blocks is better value) typically isn't an issue. But if we put RUC's on all vehicles, it would be problematic for the demographic that only fuels up their car $30 at a time...