A new California bill could help more drivers switch to lower-cost alternative fuel options across the state

Gas prices push fuel options

California lawmakers advanced a proposal after drivers faced the nation’s highest gas prices. The bill focuses on E85 conversion kits for gasoline cars, offering another lower-cost fuel option.

The idea arrived as pump prices rose above $6 a gallon during the conflict involving Iran and Israel, which unsettled oil markets and added pressure inside Sacramento this year.

Assembly support came without opposition

Assembly Bill 2046, named the Access to Affordable Gas Act by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, passed the chamber on May 21 with 72 yes votes and no recorded opposition.

That unanimous floor vote gave the measure early momentum and showed lawmakers were willing to explore vehicle conversions as another response to rising fuel costs in California this year.

The bill is in the Senate

The measure is now in the California State Senate, where lawmakers can review its language, costs, and regulatory changes before deciding whether it should advance further in Sacramento.

Even after clearing the Assembly, the proposal would still need Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval, leaving its outcome tied to later Capitol decisions this year for drivers and lawmakers.

Ransom points to driver savings

Ransom told Assembly members that Californians keep paying more at the pump than drivers elsewhere, while gas prices are climbing again across the state for households and commuters.

She presented the bill as a practical option for commuters and working families, saying it would give some drivers another route toward lower fuel costs over time in California.

Conversion kits broaden car choices

The converter kits would let drivers convert gasoline cars to run on both regular gasoline and E85, instead of limiting a vehicle to one fuel type after installation.

Kit costs range from $800 to $1,250. That upfront price matters because savings depend on fuel prices, vehicle efficiency, installation expenses, and each owner’s driving habits after conversion.

State review would change

If approved in its current form, the bill would exempt kit manufacturers from California Air Resources Board approval, which checks whether devices raise emissions after installation on vehicles.

The proposal would still leave a separate federal certification process through the Environmental Protection Agency, shifting part of the approval structure for conversion technology used by California drivers.

Fun fact: California launched its own reformulated gasoline rules in January 1992, making cleaner-burning fuel a defining feature of its market.

An economist urges caution

UC Berkeley economist Aaron Smith said lawmakers in Sacramento are looking for ways to reduce driving costs, or at least appear to address them, as fuel prices grow.

His view adds caution to the discussion. The bill offers an affordability response, but savings depend on pricing, vehicle efficiency, and local access after any conversion for drivers.

Little-known fact: California’s fuel market is isolated because gasoline is either refined in the state or shipped in by sea.

E85 uses a different blend

E85 is a high-level ethanol-gasoline fuel. Smith said its ethanol share usually ranges from 55% to 85%, depending on what stations sell in California markets at different pumps.

Supporters say that the mix can limit exposure to overseas oil shocks because much ethanol comes from Midwest corn rather than imported crude during price spikes for California drivers.

Pump discounts come with tradeoffs

Pearson Fuels government affairs manager Jeff Wilkerson said E85 has sold for $2 or more, less per gallon than gasoline during recent California price spikes at participating stations.

The lower price can look appealing, but E85 can deliver 20% to 30% fewer miles per gallon than gasoline for many vehicles during routine driving conditions in California.

Savings depend on the price gap

Because E85 delivers fewer miles per gallon, drivers save money only when the fuel costs at least 20% to 30% less than gasoline for their regular travel needs.

That tradeoff makes the pump discount critical. A cheaper gallon does not automatically mean lower costs if a vehicle burns more fuel per mile over time for owners.

Fuel access remains limited

About 1.3 million California vehicles can currently use E85, creating an existing base of possible users already driving across the state each day without requiring new conversions first.

E85 is sold at about 640 stations, leaving availability limited across a network with more than 15,000 fuel pumps around the state for motorists trying to find it.

Ransom emphasizes driver choice

Ransom said more E85 pumps would be built if California loosened restrictions and encouraged demand, making the blend easier for interested drivers to find in additional nearby places.

She also stressed that the bill would present E85 as an alternative, not the best answer for everyone, giving drivers another possible choice when prices climb for households.

Want to read more about the latest news? Check out how Central Texas residents questioned a proposed transmission line that could affect land, water, and local communities.

Oversight concerns remain part of review

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard rates E85 cleaner than regular gasoline, but Smith said ethanol benefits may be overstated because corn demand can indirectly affect land use elsewhere.

State regulators have received five kit applications since 2008, with none approved. Assembly Transportation Committee senior consultant Aaron Kurz warned against shifting scientific approval authority from California during review.

Want to stay ahead of the news? Take a look at how a proposed New York gas tax pause could bring temporary relief to drivers facing higher fuel prices.

What stands out more in California, the push for lower-cost fuel options, or the questions over savings, access, and oversight? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

Read More From This Brand:

• Unpaid snow-removal bills in Washington D.C. could complicate future storm response when residents need quick action most
• Water and sewer rate increases move forward as Westminster keeps its property tax rate flat
• Private university students in Colorado could see reduced state financial aid under newly passed legislation