November 2023 Gasoline Phaseout News

EV Policies and Programs Must Scale to Meet Climate Goals

Despite major growth in EV sales in recent years, the US is on track to reduce gasoline use by only 10% by 2030— well below the 50% cut needed to meet domestic and international climate goals. Cutting gasoline use faster will require much bigger and better targeted EV incentive programs than we now have.

Actual and forecast US gasoline consumption from 2013 through 2030. Source: EIA 2023

First, programs should be targeted to the top 10% of light duty vehicle drivers in terms of their gasoline use (“Gasoline Superusers”), who use about a third of all gasoline. Converting these drivers to EVs will do the most to reduce gasoline use.

Second, EV incentive programs should be funded to provide a substantial EV incentive for every Gasoline Superuser who wants to switch to an EV. This would be a change from the status quo in many states, where EV incentive dollars run out after serving only a small number of drivers. Building support for increased EV incentive funding will require broader political buy-in among rural and lower-income constituencies who include many Superusers, but who have not benefited from EV incentives historically. With these reforms, we can achieve faster gasoline reduction and improve the standard of living for millions of gasoline-burdened families.

Just Solutions Podcast: Rooting the Transition to EVs in Justice

The latest Just Solutions Podcast, which explores relevant climate and environmental justice stories from the perspective of gasoline burdened drivers in BIPOC and frontline communities, featured Coltura’s Janelle London and Matthew Metz. The podcast discussed how electric vehicle policies intersect with the climate justice movement and the importance of prioritizing frontline communities in the transportation transition. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, and Audible.

New Study: EVs Driven Less Than Gas Cars

New research found that EV drivers drive less than others– typically drive 4,500 miles less per year than gas car drivers. It’s true: we are still not getting the right drivers into EVs fast enough to see transportation emissions drop meaningfully. To see the biggest benefit from EVs, we need to target incentives toward “Gasoline Superusers,” those drivers in the top 10% of gasoline consumption.

Norway Making Rapid Progress in Decreasing Gasoline Demand

Norway’s gasoline usage is decreasing quickly. In the first ten months of 2023, its use of gasoline and diesel for cars decreased 7.48% relative to the same time period in 2021. The pace of decrease is likely to speed up given that 90% of new cars sold in Norway are now plug-ins.

As of October 2023, plug-in vehicles made up 30% of all cars on Norwegian roads– up from 17% in 2020 and 5% in 2016. Norway is planning to phase out sales of new internal combustion engine cars by 2025 and should continue to see even faster gasoline use decline after that.

Support Coltura on Giving Tuesday

On November 28, Coltura will participate in Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to fostering generosity and philanthropy. We’re humbly asking for your support. Thanks to a small group of staunch supporters, your Giving Tuesday gift will be DOUBLED. Give $100 and Coltura gets $200! Will you help us?

Coltura is working hard to reduce harmful, planet-warming vehicle emissions faster, more efficiently and more equitably. We are so grateful for all you have done to help us advance this mission.

In the last year alone, we’ve developed new datasets that enabled us to map gasoline consumption across the US down to the census block group level for the first time ever in history. We’ve advanced policies in multiple states to focus on helping the most gasoline-burdened families switch to EVs.

Thanks to a small group of staunch supporters, your Giving Tuesday gift will be DOUBLED. Give $100 and Coltura gets $200! Will you support our work? Every dollar counts! Your support is essential and very much appreciated.

GIVE & GET 2X YOUR IMPACT

Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up below for your free subscription to Gasoline Phaseout News!

Gas Station of the Month: Amaro in Taunton, MA

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection estimated that an Amaro on the southeast side of the state released 31,000 gallons of gasoline during a leak that happened this fall. Cleanup consultants were hired to clean up the leak, but the full extent of the damage remains not fully known— leaving residents unclear about the true scope of the environmental impact.

The Perfect Holiday Gift: Sparky’s Electrifying Tale Children’s Book

Holiday season is here! Give a gift that educates the young people in your life about the harms of gasoline and benefits of cleaner alternatives like EVs. Order your copies of the award-winning children’s book Sparky’s Electrifying Tale today!

Culture Corner: Car Dealerships Create Barriers to EV Access

In the face of an urgent need to transition American vehicles to electric, car dealers are often preventing people across the country from accessing EVs. In a survey conducted in 2022, the Sierra Club found 66% of dealerships did not have an EV available for sale. 45% of those dealers said they wouldn’t offer an EV even if they could. Ford and General Motors have been working hard to prepare their dealers to sell EVs, yet many of those dealers have told the manufacturers they have no interest in taking part in the electric car transition.

This reluctance by car dealers to embrace the electric car revolution is not merely a business challenge but a roadblock to scaling one of the most important climate solutions. The disparity in selling gasoline cars versus electric cars underscores a critical need for a paradigm shift in dealer attitudes which requires stronger EV policies and education.