WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - A group of Senate

Republicans on Wednesday proposed a $1,000 tax on new electric

vehicle purchases to account for the cost of federal road

repairs.

Most revenue for federally funded road repairs is collected

through taxes on diesel and gasoline, which EVs do not pay.

The one-time $1,000 fee charged at the time of purchase

would be roughly equivalent to what drivers of conventional

vehicles pay in federal gas taxes over 10 years for highway

funds, said Senator Deb Fischer, the lead sponsor of the

measure.