EVs—why and how

Why an EV?

For your health and your children's health

The air is cleaner when we drive EVs.

Want to know how close you live to a freeway, which is not good for you? Enter your address at latimes.com/projects/la-me-freeway-how-close-map/.
We are helping to fight the climate crisis.
Passenger vehicles account for about 28% of greenhouse gases in California.
Also, as the earth heats up, it will become increasingly important to drive vehicles that emit less heat than gas vehicles, which EVs do.
You can idle without adding pollutants into the air.
About 10 percent of our electricity in LA still comes from coal, and another 47% of electricity still comes from non-renewable sources, but the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will be off of coal by 2025, and the LANCSA, along with other organizations, is working with them to get to 100% renewable energy as soon as possible—2030 is our goal! So, even though your "zero-emission" vehicle isn't emission-free, it's getting closer and cleaner.

This is a matter of environmental justice.

Scientists have detected huge disparities in traffic pollution among L.A. neighborhoods, with some of the lowest levels of traffic pollution in wealthier enclaves such as West Los Angeles, where the roads have more new cars with cleaner engines and fewer trucks.

Levels of ultrafine particles, the tiny, short-lived particles scientists measure as an indicator of recently emitted exhaust, are several times higher over in the eastside neighborhood of Boyle Heights, which, in addition to being carved up by a freeway interchange, has more diesel trucks and older, higher-polluting cars on its surface streets.

www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-freeway-pollution-what-you-can-do-20171230-htmlstory.html

Incentives

Because we have to get off gas-powered cars, federal, state, and local governments provide incentives to help us make the transition.

Did you know that people with more money are taking advantage of incentives for EVs more than people with less money? We need to make sure that everyone, not just the wealthy, has access to EVs.

"California drivers who buy electric vehicles overwhelmingly fit a narrow demographic profile. Most are male, white or Asian American, and between the ages of 30 and 49. The majority earn more than $100,000 a year and live in expensive coastal areas."
lmtonline.com/politics/article/Silicon-Valley-dudes-buying-Teslas-15738651.php

lmtonline.com/politics/article/Silicon-Valley-dudes-buying-Teslas-15738651.php

And there are GREAT incentives that make an EV doable for most folks who can get a car. An EV is often less expensive than a gas-powered car. Read on!

Wondering about the incentives for EVs?

A great resource is cleanvehiclerebate.org/eng/community/savings.
And check out this one, too—www.electricforall.org/rebates-incentives.

To learn more about the incentives, visit ncsa.la/evs_is_one_right_for_me.

PLEASE NOTE

Several programs that help people drive electric vehicles are on hold, but they will be back! The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (which offers up to $4,500 toward an electric vehicle) and Replace Your Ride (which pays you up to $9,500 to trade in your old car for a newer one) are expected to be back late summer/early fall 2021. The Clean Vehicle Assistance Program (which offered financing, help with charging, and a grant of $5,000 toward an electric vehicle) is being overhauled, and is expected to be back up early 2022.

Interested in buying a used EV? LADWP can help with a $1500 incentive. Check out their Used Electric Vehicle Rebate Program.

Another great resource is replaceyourride.com. If you have a vehicle made in 2012 or earlier, check it out! You might be eligible. (Due to the pandemic, there is no more funding for this program until at least July 2021.)

Do you want a charger? You can get a discount from LADWP for a charger as well as a dedicated EV meter, which will allow you to save money on the electricity you use to charge your vehicle. Check out LADWP's Residential EV Charging Station Rebate Program.

AND THEN THERE'S THE CARPOOL LANE! If you get clean air decals from the DMV, you can use it, regardless of the number of people in your car! Learn more at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/license-plates-decals-and-placards/clean-air-vehicle-decals-for-using-carpool-lanes/.

The cost

EVs can be less expensive than gas-powered vehicles because:

1) you don't have to pay for gas; charging is often less expensive.

2) very little maintenance is required (just for brakes and tires).

3) EVs are more efficient than gas cars. EVs convert over 77 percent of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels. Conventional gasoline vehicles only convert about 12 to 30 percent of the energy stored in gasoline to power at the wheels.

How much do you pay for maintenance and repairs on your current vehicle? How much do you pay for gas? How much will you pay to charge your EV?

The average price of electricity in LA is roughly $.195 per kilowatt hour (kWh). And if you get a separate meter (subsidized by LADWP) when you get a charger, the cost of your electricity will be discounted! You can look up how many kWh/100 miles your EV takes. Multiply the cost per kWh times the number of kWh to travel 100 miles and divide by 100 to get the cost per mile to charge. (For more information about this, go here and here.)

Make sure, if you are running the numbers, to factor all this in. Check out the US Department of Energy's vehicle cost calculator at afdc.energy.gov/calc to compare different cars.

The ride

A lot of drivers and passengers love how smooth and QUIET the ride is. A lot of drivers love the pick-up—how quickly they can accelerate.

Charging

The charging infrastructure is probably better than you think, and it's getting better all the time.

You can call Chargepoint and/or check out their interactive map to find charging stations near you. Another good resource is PlugShare.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN CHARGE YOUR CAR WITH A REGULAR 110/120-volt outlet?

Did you know that people living in apartments are coming together to help bring EV charging stations into their buildings? Check out this webinar to learn more.

If you live in an apartment with 5 or more parking spaces, your landlord is required to approve your written request to install an EV charger, if certain conditions are met. (Your landlord is NOT obligated to pay for the charger.)

Why not get an EV?

You have to charge it, and we don't yet have the infrastructure. The range is typically less than what you get with a full tank of gas, and it takes more time to charge than to fill a gas tank.
Dealerships don't tend to promote them. Dealerships make money off of vehicle maintenance and, well, there isn't much of that with EVs.
Not all types of vehicles are available yet.
Car batteries die.
A limited number of dealerships work with the incentive programs.
EVs still take a toll on the environment, and there are concerns about batteries, tires, parking, etc.

To learn more about incentives for EVs and chargers, visit ncsa.la/evs_right_for_me.

Want to learn more about driving an EV? Have questions? Feeling overwhelmed by the information? Attend one of our upcoming virtual workshops.

Questions? Thoughts? Feedback? Contact Lisa Hart at [email protected] or 323.660.2780.

Updated November 11, 2024

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