California Electric Vehicle Growth Spurs Look at Mileage Fees

California has a road funding problem, thanks to cars driving farther on a tank of gas and an expanding electric vehicle fleet.

The quandary has prompted the state to investigate news ways of funding, including charging by miles driven rather than by gallons of gas pumped, while also taking more immediate actions.

The Golden State has more than 700,000 electric vehicles on the roads—more than any other state—and a goal of 5 million clean cars within 10 years. Zero-emission sales goals for trucks are also on the horizon.

But that goal, to reduce air pollution, comes with a cost: Electric ...