Ting’s Bill To Update CA’s Clean Car Rebate Program By Targeting “Superusers” Approved By The State Legislature

For immediate release:

Thursday, August 29, 2024

California can make a bigger dent in reducing greenhouse gasses under a bill by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), which was sent to the Governor today after passing both the Senate and Assembly. AB 2401 modernizes California's Clean Cars 4 All (CC4A) program by expanding it statewide and making higher rebates available specifically for lower income, high-mileage drivers with older, high-polluting vehicles. Simply focusing on this small group of "superusers" - particularly in communities of color - could be pivotal in helping the state reach its climate goals.

"Clean car rebates have previously gone to drivers who typically don't need the financial help. Now is the time to turn our attention to working families who often live in areas with poor air quality and cannot afford to switch to a zero-emission vehicle. Investing in them will bring fairness and equity to the program, while also accelerating the environmental benefits for the state," said Ting.

The CC4A program has helped residents in a handful of air districts buy clean cars, regardless of household income. Its proposed expansion under AB 2401 is needed now more than ever, since the California Air Resources Board announced this month the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) has permanently closed after all funds have been exhausted. While rebates stimulate the state's transition to ZEVs, they mostly went to higher income drivers. OneUCLA analysis found only 15% of the state's EV incentives went to households in disadvantaged communities.

"Today, low-income communities of color endure the worst rates of pollution, and at the same time tend to be more reliant on older gas-powered passenger vehicles due to the high costs of switching to EVs. The Clean Cars for All program is a critical tool in California's transition to cleaner transportation, but to be successful, it must prioritize those who face the highest barriers to switching to zero-emissions vehicles and suffer the most health consequences of vehicle pollution. The changes set forth in this bill puts us on a path towards cleaner air and environmental justice for Californians," said Román Partida-López, Senior Legal Counsel for Transportation Equity at The Greenlining Institute.

Recent studies support the prioritization outlined in AB 2401. The Greenlining Institute and the Union of Concerned Scientists released research that indicates older cars, built before 2004, make up less than 20% of cars, SUVs, and pickups in California, but are responsible for over 70% of the smog-forming nitrogen oxides pollution from passenger vehicles. A different report by Coltura found EV drivers across the country are saving about $1,200 a year in fuel and maintenance costs, while Superusers are saving an average of $400 a month.

The deadline for the Governor to act on all bills sent to him this month is September 30, 2024.