Why did they put it up or why did I pay it? On both counts I have no idea.

Seriously though, they obviously put it up to rake in taxes because they are broke and don't know what to do. All this goes on under the guise of 'being green' or something equally bullshit. If it goes up again I'll probably get rid of it. Might do that anyway and get something I'm not being raped by the government to drive. They are nice cars with decent handling, but definitely not worth paying a substantial amount more in taxes and fuel to get about in than an equivalent turbo diesel with a decent map.