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Zero Emissions Vehicles

Getting Charged Up About Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicle being chargedSwitching from a regular internal combustible engine (ICE) to an electric vehicle (EV) has many advantages, including federal and state purchase incentives, decreased maintenance cost and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.

If you are thinking about going electric, we offer these helpful resources to inform you about owning, driving, charging and maintaining an EV.

Before charging ahead, it’s best to know the terminology:

EV - electric vehicle
BEV - battery electric vehicle
HEV - hybrid electric vehicle
PHEV - plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

EVs come with many benefits:

  • Cost savings
  • Air quality improvement (GHG reductions)
  • Clean-energy fueling
  • Lower cost of fueling (electricity is less expensive than gas)
  • Less maintenance
  • Lower cost of maintenance (no oil, filters or belts to change)
  • Carpool lane access
  • They are fun to drive!

10 Questions to Ask When Buying an EV:

  1. What is the car’s range on a full charge?
  2. How far do I usually drive to the places I go most?
  3. Where will I charge (at home, at work, at a public charger) and what does the charging cost in this location? Does the rate change depending on time of day?
  4. Are there public charging stations near where I live, work or shop?
  5. What incentives am I eligible for?
  6. How much is insurance on the models that interest me most?
  7. Should I buy a new or used EV?
  8. Is there a warranty? If so, what does it cover?
  9. What are the consumer reviews like for the models I am considering?
  10. Where can I test drive the models that interest me?

Can’t decide which model is right for you? Visit this San Diego County Consumer Guide to narrow down your search. 

There are also a number of incentives and rebates available to help offset the cost of a new EV: 

There are three levels of chargers that charge your vehicle at various speeds. To learn more about each level, check out the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.

The City of San Diego has 57 charging stations to make charging EVs more convenient.

More EV charging stations around San Diego County:

City Fleet Update: the City is in the process of electrifying its fleet, with a goal of 100% Zero-Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) cars and light-duty vehicles by 2035!

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