The North Carolina Department of Transportation said the fee, which is in addition to other registration costs, has been introduced because the owners of these vehicles do not otherwise contribute to road use and maintenance.

Tax, at 17.5% plus a variable fee on top, is applied to the sale of fuel in North Carolina, which means owners of plug-in hybrids will not be affected by the new requirement.  

Renewals during January are said to affect the first 146 of the 1,600 electric vehicles registered in the state, and the fee will apply to new and already registered cars.