News Release

New Study: Nearly Four Million Black and Latino Drivers Spend 15% of Income on Gasoline

EVs Could Save High-Mileage Drivers Thousands of Dollars Per Year on Fuel Costs.

Groundbreaking new research on gasoline spending by Black and Latino households shows that nearly four million Black and Latino drivers spend an average of 15% of their income on gasoline. The study, released today by Coltura, also finds that these high-mileage drivers could save an average of $3,800 a year on fuel alone and $4,900 when considering lower maintenance costs for EVs.

“Gasoline spending is an enormous burden for Black and Latino households who must drive a lot, but there’s also an opportunity here for these drivers to unlock enormous savings by switching to an EV,” said Janelle London, Coltura’s co-executive director

The report explores the gasoline burden borne by Black and Latino drivers, particularly for higher-mileage gasoline Superusers (top 10% of drivers for gasoline use), the savings potential of EV adoption, and the targeted policy interventions that could support a just transition to sustainable transportation for these communities. Key Findings include:

• Black Superusers spend 15.8% and Latino Superusers spend 13.7% of household income on gasoline on average—far more than the 10.2% spent by other drivers.
• By switching to EVs, Black Superusers could save an estimated 9.9% of their income in fuel costs, and Latino Superusers could save 7.9%, helping to reduce financial strain.
• These savings for Black and Latino Superusers average to $3,800 a year on fuel alone and $4,900 on fuel and maintenance combined.

“This report shows the importance of ensuring that Black and Latino people whose circumstances force them to drive more are able to realize the tremendous economic benefits from making the switch to an EV. By addressing the heavy economic burden that high gasoline use imposes on families of color, we can create a more just, inclusive, prosperous and environmentally responsible future,” said Dr. Shelley Francis, co-founder of EVHybridNoire.

“The findings of this report are consistent with the fact that on the whole Black and Latino households hold less wealth and face longer commutes to work. This research underscores the urgent need for policies that help make EVs accessible to Black and Latino Superusers, and advocacy strategies that effectively educate and inform gasoline cost burdened drivers how they can make the switch to EVs. Such work is essential to achieving environmentally sustainable, equitable, and affordable transportation for all,” said Andrea Marpillero-Colomina, PhD, Policy Advisor at GreenLatinos.

The report makes recommendations to boost EV adoption among Black and Latino Superusers including EV incentive reform, expanding charging in areas accessible to Black and Latino Superusers, and focusing outreach where there are high concentrations of Black and Latino Superusers.

The report can be found here.

The webinar can be found here. Use the passcode: WT5.qvu#