A state in the United States is soon to begin charging electric car owners $100 (£61) a year in tax.

The Washington state is slapping the tax on drivers to make up for losing the tax from petrol they don’t need to buy anymore. The cash is meant to go towards maintaining the roads and highways.

People who own a car which is purely battery-operated – that doesn’t include hybrid cars of course – will have to cough up from 1 February. This is likely to apply to around 1,600 cars.

The rule was sponsored by US Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, who reportedly said 60% of Washington state residents backed the extra fee.