AB 1267
Electric Vehicle Incentive for Gasoline
Superusers
SUMMARY
California has a variety of incentive programs
aimed at getting more drivers into zero
emission vehicles (ZEVs), but there is still slow
adoption of ZEVs among the biggest gasoline
users (“superusers”). To reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions efficiently and equitably,
the state must invest incentive resources to
maximize gasoline reduction, especially
among lower-income consumers.
BACKGROUND
The transportation sector is the largest source
of GHG emissions in California, accounting for
40% of all statewide emissions. Burning gasoline
in our cars, trucks and SUVs is the single biggest
source of California’s CO2 emissions, at 25.5%
of the total .1 The California Air Resources
Board Scoping Plan approved on December
15, 2022 calls for a 50% reduction in gasoline
use between 2021 and 2030 to meet statutorily
mandated GHG reduction requirements. But
despite this, gasoline use has stayed essentially
flat over the last decade, and it ’s forecast by
the Energy Commission to decrease just 10%
by 2030, despite new ZEV sales requirements.
On September 23, 2020, Governor Gavin
Newsom issued executive order N-79-20,
which requires all new cars purchased after
2035 to be ZEVs. To that end, the state has
invested resources into facilitating the
transition to ZEVs for consumers across the
state. This includes funding ZEV incentive
programs such as the Clean Vehicle Rebate
Program and Clean Cars 4 All administered by
the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
However, none of the state’s current incentive
programs focus on maximizing or measuring
gasoline reductions.
In a 2020 report, the California State Auditor
noted that CARB has not done enough to
measure the GHG emissions reductions its
incentive programs achieve. As the state
moves to meet it s ambitious climate and
transportation goals, it is crucial to create
programs to are both equitable and focus on
reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
Many g asoline s uperusers are lower-income
consumers who cannot afford to live near their
workplaces and must spend much of their
income on fuel. An analysis from Coltura found
that superusers making less than $50,000 per
year spend on average 23% of their income on
fuel, whereas consumers making more than
$100,000 spend less than 3 %. By creating a
program that helps the biggest gasoline users
transition to EVs, the state can accelerate our
progress in meeting our ambitious climate and
transportation goals.
THIS BILL
AB 1267 requires CARB to create an additional
ZEV incentive award for gasoline
superusers. CARB would set a definition for a
gasoline superuser based on the average
amount of gallons of gasoline used by a
consumer in a vehicle registered to them in a
year. It would verify superusers with their VIN
and current odometer reading.
This bill would also require CARB to report on
the amount of GHG emissions reduced per
dollar spent on ZEV incentives and the impacts
of ZEV pr ograms in terms of quantifia ble
emission reductions for low and moderate
income individuals.
SUPPORT
Coltura (Sponsor)
STAFF CONTACT
Maria Morales
(916) 319-2019
[email protected]
1 https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-inventory-graphs