Maryland’s ambitious goal to have 1.1 million electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads by 2030 is facing a new hurdle: a state tax on EV chargers that could reduce their availability. As of late 2025, the state has only registered around 150,000 EVs, significantly below its target. Now, a new law threatens to make progress even slower.
New Fees for Charging Ports
Starting January 1, 2026, all public EV chargers in Maryland accepting payment must register with the state’s Weights and Measures program. The annual fee is $150 per charging port. A standard four-port Level 2 charger will cost $600 a year in state fees – a rate far exceeding the $20 annual fee for gasoline pumps.
Maryland officials state the fees will fund inspection, verification, and compliance efforts. Inspectors will verify charger rates and contact information, with non-compliant chargers facing stop-use notices and red tags. Repairs or adjustments on unregistered equipment will require approval from a certified service agency.
Impact on Charger Availability
Independent charger operators and property owners hosting chargers at apartments, workplaces, and retail spaces have voiced concerns. They argue the annual fee will make it economically unsustainable to maintain low-usage chargers, potentially forcing them offline. Larger fast-charging networks may absorb the costs, but smaller hosts could be forced to reduce availability.
State inspectors will also begin accuracy testing electricity metering in spring 2026, requiring new hardware to be certified before public use. The long-term effects remain uncertain.
This tax effectively raises the cost of EV infrastructure, which may discourage investment in charging stations. This could slow EV adoption, especially in areas where chargers are already scarce.
The situation raises questions about Maryland’s commitment to its EV goals. While the state aims to promote clean energy, policies like this could undermine progress by making EV ownership less convenient. Whether Maryland can balance revenue generation with EV adoption remains to be seen.
