Electric vehicles bill passes Georgia House

Georgia legislators are considering legislation to promote electric-vehicle charging. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Credit: TNS

Georgia legislators are considering legislation to promote electric-vehicle charging. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

The Georgia House approved a bill Wednesday that could expand electric-vehicle charging across the state.

House Bill 406 would allow businesses such as convenience stores to sell electricity for vehicle charging by the kilowatt hour — a move that could encourage the installation of chargers and allow the state to tax the electricity.

The bill also would create regulations for electric-vehicle chargers similar to those that now govern gasoline pumps. And it would pave the way for a future tax on electricity for automobiles that could gradually replace revenue from motor fuel taxes, which pay for road construction and maintenance.

HB 406 passed the House by a vote of 161-0.

A similar bill — Senate Bill 146 — passed the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee on Tuesday.