Gasoline Phaseout News – August 2024
Coltura Launches First-of-its-Kind EV Savings Index
A new quarterly analysis and interactive data tool from Coltura challenges the narrative that electric vehicles (EVs) are more expensive to operate than gas-powered cars. The latest data, covering the second quarter of 2024, shows that EV drivers in all 50 states enjoyed significant fuel savings, with an average annual savings of $1,200 or $100 per month compared to their gasoline counterparts.
The index breaks down savings by state, revealing how in places where the difference between gas and electricity are greater, the savings are even more dramatic. In Washington state, drivers could save on average $1,775 annually on fuel and maintenance by switching to an EV.
Coltura will release updated data quarterly.
See coverage of Coltura’s report in CBS News, Quartz, Boston Globe and Fast Company.
California Gasoline Superuser Bill Passes Senate with Unanimous Support, Onto Governor’s Desk
AB 2401 (Ting), the Coltura-backed California bill to steer EV incentives to low-income, high-mileage drivers of older vehicles, passed the Senate unanimously on August 28 and has been sent to the Governor’s desk.
This bill is a critical step in California’s transition to a zero-emissions future, ensuring low-income communities that are most overburdened by pollution and face the highest economic barriers have equitable access to the benefits of clean transportation.
“AB 2401 will make California’s Clean Cars 4 All program more equitable, while cutting climate and air pollution faster, by helping the most gasoline-burdened households make the switch to an EV.
“We can make significant strides towards meeting its climate commitments while ensuring that the benefits of these programs lift up communities most in need and focus budget dollars on an effective climate strategy. We look forward to helping push this bipartisan, broadly supported effort over the finish line,” said Janelle London, Co-Executive Director at Coltura.
Washington State Rolls Out EV Incentives; Coltura Urges Focus on High Gasoline Users
Washington launched a new electric vehicle incentive program designed to boost opportunities to help low-income families make the switch to EVs. The new Instant Rebates Program, administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce, will provide between $2,500 and $9,000 toward the purchase or lease of an EV, available at the point of sale.
Coltura looks forward to working with the state and other stakeholders to steer these incentives to the households using the most gasoline, who stand to save the most money by switching to an EV, in order to maximize the environmental, economic and equity benefits.
Coltura Data Insight of the Month: EV Data Down to the Census Tract
Coltura’s US gasoline consumption model offers granular insights into drivers, gas expenditures, and EV savings metrics. The photo below shows the Census Tract-Level Dashboard from Coltura’s Data Insights Demo, which allows users to filter census tracts by factors such as Superusers (top 10% of gasoline users), Justice40 status, and population density.
The demo shows data for Arkansas’ 700 census tracts and can be applied to any state down to the census block group level.
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Your support is essential in our mission to reduce gasoline use quickly, efficiently and equitable – helping tackle on of our biggest sources of emissions, saving people money, and protecting our planet. Coltura is at the forefront of advancing crucial, bipartisan policies, including a landmark EV incentive bill on the cusp of passage in California and similar initiatives nationwide.
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Ethiopia First Country to Go All-Electric
Ethiopia is requiring that all new vehicles imported to the country be all-electric beginning in 2024— making it the first country in the world to adopt a 100% EV requirement. The Ethiopian government stated that: “In light of the pressing challenges posed by climate change and Ethiopia’s commitment to contribute to emission reduction and transition to renewable energy, the importation of vehicles using fuels (petrol and diesel) for internal combustion engines is prohibited.”
The country was also motivated to reduce its fossil fuel import bill of $5 billion a year— while moving towards energy security and self-sufficiency.
Gas Station of the Month: Mobil Gas Station, Clifton Springs, NY
After neighboring residents complained of strong vapor smells, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the fire department, and local hazmat response teams investigated a gasoline leak coming from the Mobil Gas Station in Clifton Springs, New York. The initial investigation in mid-August disclosed fuel harming the sanitary sewer, storm sewer and a nearby creek. A vacuum truck was sent to remove petroleum-impacted groundwater.
“We went outside, they started pulling the manhole covers and you couldn’t even stand next to them the fumes that came out. I mean it was straight gasoline, just like you were pouring it right out,” said a neighboring business owner.
Culture Corner: The Risks of Republican Candidates’ EV Bashing
In a recent Politico piece, veteran Republican political consultant Mike Murphy warns that while EVs have become politicized, attacking them may not be a wise move for 2024 election candidates. Polling shows independent voters have a favorable view of EVs. More importantly, EVs and their components are mostly manufactured in swing states– creating a boom of manufacturing jobs in those politically-critical places.
Even more, surveyed voters of all political stripes supported the idea of no longer having to pay for gasoline.
More on the data at EVPolitics.org
