Over the past six years, Hawaii’s electric vehicle market has grown dramatically, from 6,748 registered electric passenger vehicles in 2018 to 33,563 in August 2024, according to the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

While it’s rewarding to see electric vehicle adoption increasing across the state, there’s still a lot of work to be done, while there are still more than a million passenger vehicles that run on gasoline and diesel.

Of those who use non-EV cars, there is one type of driver who could benefit most from an electric car: gasoline-powered “Superusers.”

Although these drivers represent only 6.8% of our motorists, they consume nearly 26% of all gasoline used in Hawaii. This small group of drivers, approximately 65,000 people in our state, reflects staggeringly high fuel consumption, and the financial burden they bear is even more concerning.

These Superusers often drive more than 40,000 kilometers per year, compared to the average non-Superuser driver who logs only 13,500 kilometers. Many are rural residents, and a disproportionate number are Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian and Hispanic.

These are people with jobs that require longer drives and are not necessarily by choice – whether they are home care workers, construction workers, housekeepers, or even hail or delivery drivers. They also tend to drive fuel-inefficient vehicles like trucks and SUVs, causing their gas mileage – and the impact on their wallets – to skyrocket.

By transitioning these Superusers to electric vehicles, we can potentially help them save millions of dollars every year while reducing carbon emissions. Ulupono Initiative partnered with national nonprofit Coltura to analyze the Hawaiian Superusers group and published our findings in a recently released report titled “Power Pivot – Transitioning Hawaii Gasoline Superusers to Electric Vehicles,” available at ulupono.com.

Our report estimates that converting 65,000 Hawaii Superusers to electric vehicles could save them $220 million a year in fuel costs and reduce our state’s emissions by 4%. That’s a huge step forward toward our goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and becoming net negative by 2045. It is strategic, impactful and more cost-effective than blanket EV subsidies.

For years, the focus has been on convincing early adopters (and those who can afford the upfront costs) to switch to electric vehicles. However, with falling prices and federal tax incentives, some electric vehicles are now very cost competitive and could be within reach for many Hawaii residents.

This report makes one thing clear: the real, broader impact on the community will come from helping Superusers make the switch. These drivers spend up to $13,700 per year on gasoline, which can account for 14% of their household income. Imagine the financial savings if they can reduce their fuel costs by 38% by adopting an electric car.

Additionally, because electricity prices tend to fluctuate less than gasoline prices, drivers will have a more predictable fuel budget when switching to electric.

Ultimately, it’s about making life more affordable for families disproportionately burdened by high gasoline costs, and creating a fairer path to clean energy for all residents. We even spotlight several Superusers on our islands to share their stories. By focusing our efforts on this small but impactful group, we can take a significant step toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.

These changes wouldn’t just benefit Superusers; they would benefit us all. By helping these high-mileage drivers switch to electric vehicles, we can reduce emissions faster and on a larger scale than ever before.

Switching one Superuser to an EV has the same impact on emissions as switching up to five other non-Superuser drivers. That’s the kind of change we need to achieve our state’s ambitious climate goals. Additionally, as Hawaii’s grids use more renewable energy, electric vehicles that charge from the grid will increasingly be powered by renewable energy.

Hawaiian officials and business leaders can help seize this moment. Our state needs policies and programs that specifically address the needs of our gasoline superusers.

Targeted incentives – such as tax credits, point-of-sale discounts and even direct subsidies – will make electric vehicles more accessible to this group, especially lower-income households. California has already taken the lead with legislation to support lower-income, long-mileage drivers in the transition to electric vehicles.

Additional programmatic support and assistance for these Superusers can help them make the transition. High concentrations of Superusers will help improve the location of public charges. Hawaii can take the lead in all these areas.

By helping our Superusers convert, we can catalyze impactful change. It’s not just a good strategy for our state. By enabling our most frequent drivers to go electric, we are moving Hawaii toward a more affordable future for these individuals and a more sustainable future for everyone.