AB 1267: ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR GASOLINE SUPERUSERS
Lower-income families using the most gasoline face extreme financial burdens. California Assembly Member Phil Ting sponsored AB 1267 to help get gasoline-burdened families into electric vehicles. The bill will cut vehicle fuel costs for those who need it the most, while reducing auto pollution faster.
2/16/2023: Bill introduced with Coltura sponsorship; referred to Assembly Transportation Committee and Assembly Natural Resources Committee
3/27/2023: Bill passed California Assembly Transportation Committee with unanimous vote.
To the extent AB 1267 incentivizes the biggest gasoline users to switch to ZEVs, it will help reduce the total number of ZEVs that would be needed to reach CARB’s near-term target of cutting gasoline use in half by 2030.
AB 1267 would require the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to:
“By switching to an EV, the biggest gasoline users get the added benefit of saving on average $800/month on fuel and maintenance and repairs — that’s often enough to cover the monthly car payment on the ZEV.”
— Janelle London, Coltura
Check out this tool for estimating annual gasoline use, ZEV incentive payment and gasoline savings
GETTING SUPERUSERS TO SWITCH TO ZEVS FIRST MEANS FEWER TOTAL ZEVS ARE NEEDED TO CUT VEHICLE EMISSIONS IN HALF
9 million ZEVs vs 24 million ZEVs
Burning gasoline in our cars, trucks and SUVs is the single biggest source of California’s CO2 emissions, at more than 25% of the total. Consumer gasoline use has stayed essentially flat over the last decade. To meet statutory emissions reduction targets, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) calls for a 50% cut in gasoline use from 2021 to 2030. But the state is forecast by California Energy Commission (CEC) staff to decrease gasoline consumption just 10% by 2030 – far short of the 50% goal.
Meanwhile, EVs are primarily going to higher-income people, while lower-income Californians are bearing the biggest financial burdens of driving gas-powered cars.
Currently, ZEV incentives don’t take into account the driver’s gasoline use. They should. Switching to a ZEV has a much greater impact for a driver who was burning 1,000 gallons of gasoline a year than for a driver only burning 100 gallons — not only in terms of annual emissions avoided, but also in terms of household savings on gasoline and vehicle maintenance.
AB 1267 REDIRECTS VEHICLE FUEL SPENDING AWAY FROM OIL COMPANIES, TOWARD HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS & ELECTRICITY
Incentivizing families spending the most money on gasoline to switch to ZEVs lets them put some of that money back into their own pockets, and redirects much of the rest toward clean, renewable electricity produced in California.
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