Electric Vehicle (EV)
Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Are new and used EVs available for sale in our county?

Yes, although availability has been impacted due to supply chain disruptions. We recommend checking local dealership inventory online regularly and calling dealerships to learn about anticipated delivery timelines for new EVs. You can also order many new EVs online for delivery at a local dealership.

A great resource for looking through the 80 EV models and determining which meets your lifestyle is https://plugstar.com/cars . You can then visit the manufacturer or local dealer website to learn more. 

For used EVs, searching for the vehicle model with “used” will bring up many third party sellers, and Craigslist is a great resource for private party sales.

MyGreenCar is a great car-buying resource that allows you to select multiple used and new gas, hybrid, and EV cars to test drive and compare your actual battery use and costs of ownership. 

Do you need to service or smog EVs?

Pure EVs do not require services that most gasoline powered vehicles do, such as oil, transmission, cooling, muffler and spark plug maintenance. EVs do not need to be smogged. Plug in hybrids may need some services like oil changes at a reduced frequency, such as every year or two. In general EVs and PHEVs have lower maintenance costs than gasoline cars, with some studies putting it at about half.

Do you know which car manufacturers have the best labor laws and labor union protections? I want to choose a manufacturer that treats its workers fairly.

Some car manufacturers are union – Chevrolet’s Chevy Bolt and Chrysler’s Pacifica PHEV are manufactured in the United States with union labor. Tesla vehicles are the only cars made in California and are not union made, nor are the Prius Prime or Nissan Leaf.

What is a crossover vehicle?

A "crossover" is a vehicle that "crosses over" from the practicality of an SUV to the drivability and fuel efficiency of a car. Examples of EV crossovers are the Kia Niro, Hyundai Kona Electric, Tesla Model Y, and Subaru Crosstrek. Examples of EV SUVs are the Audi e-tron and Tesla Model X. More EV versions of trucks and SUVs are coming out as demand for these types of EV vehicles increases.

Charging Your EV

What are the different ways to charge your EV? What are charging Levels?

Information on the various charging levels can be found here.

Where can you charge your EV? How much does it cost to charge your EV at a charging station? Are there free charging stations? 

PlugShare.com provides a database of more than 300,000 charging stations nationwide. Typically, public charging is 20-30 cents per kWh or $1-2 per hour. You can also search for complimentary charging stations, of which there are a few in our region. Volta has the largest network of free stations.

For those who commute in an EV, is charging at home sufficient to fully recharge the battery each night?

Yes — if you drive less than 50 miles a day, a Level 1 charger from a standard 120 volt outlet may be a very affordable, low cost solution. If you have a Level 2 charger at your home, you should be able to add 200-300 miles to your EV battery overnight.

If you are a renter, who is expected to pay for a new EV charging station? The renter of the landlord?

In most cases, the renter is expected to pay for the purchase and installation of a new EV charging station. It is always a good idea to check with your landlord before making any improvements to your unit. 

If your landlord is interested in adding charging as an amenity, and you live at an apartment building or condos, look into the CALeVIP and SCE ChargeReady 2 programs, which will pay for a large portion of the cost of installing multiple chargers for multifamiliy properties.

Are quick chargers only necessary for road trips?

Quick chargers are very useful for road trips, and many EV owners have taken road trips of thousands of miles in a week or two, or have traveled across the country. Quick chargers can also be useful for extending a vehicle’s range in a day, for example if a Santa Barbara driver wanted to drive to LA or Orange County and back in one day. Drivers that don’t have access to home charging, but own a large battery EV may rely on workplace charging and/or quick chargers as their primary way of fueling their vehicle.

Can I charge my EV at home?

If you have an electric outlet, you can charge your EV at home. A Level 1 charger provides charging through a 120 V AC plug and adds about 2 to 5 miles of range to a vehicle per hour of charging time. Charging with Level 1 EVSE will not require any special equipment besides an outlet, but does require a dedicated branch circuit. A Level 2 charger provides charging through a 240 V AC plug and adds about 10 to 60 miles of range to a vehicle per hour of charging time, making it suitable for all EVs. Using Level 2 EVSE requires drivers install special charging equipment as well as have a dedicated electrical circuit of 20 to 100 amps. Learn more.

Does the battery last longer if you don’t charge it until it is almost depleted or should it be charged nightly?

Yes – the battery will last longer if you charge it to 80%-90%. Some manufacturers provide a built-in buffer so the driver can never charge to 100%. Others allow the driver to set the level of charging. Only charge the battery to 100% when you plan to drive a long distance.

Is use of Tesla Superchargers limited to Teslas?

Yes – the Tesla Supercharger can only be used with Tesla because it requires a unique plug. It is possible to get a converter to use Tesla chargers for other cars, but not ideal. Additionally, there is no free charging for non-Tesla brands and not all Teslas get complimentary charging. 

What is the beta on an adaptive plug-in from non-Tesla EVs to Tesla chargers? Do they work well and are they worth the cost? 

There is no adapter to connect your Ioniq to a Tesla Supercharger. A good bit of news is the new Electrify America Level 3 DC Fast Charging Station in Camarillo where there are 10 chargers – eight 150kW and two 350kW. In general, fast charging for non-Tesla cars is expanding rapidly.

Does an EV battery lose charge while sitting for an extended period of time? For example, if you take it to a trailhead and then backpack for a week, will your battery still be at the same level when you return?

EVs can lose charge very slowly, just like a gas vehicle’s battery would die eventually if not started once in a while. The car still needs to power anti-theft systems, etc. In a week, depending on the car, you might lose a few percent to 10 percent of range. Once you know your car you could take any losses into account when charging before arriving at a trailhead or airport or other places a car might sit a while.

Financial Considerations

What savings can I expect to see from purchasing an EV?

The largest savings will be from not buying gasoline, as EVs can be charged at home during off-peak times on special EV rates for as little as $1.50/gallon equivalent. You likely will also see savings on maintenance. Alameda County found that in their fleet the EVs required 3.5 cents/mile of maintenance versus 7.9 cents/mile for their gasoline vehicles, or about half the expense.

EVs do not require services that most gasoline powered vehicles do, such as oil, transmission, cooling, muffler and spark plug maintenance. EVs do not need to be smogged. Insurance premiums are about the same for EVs and gasoline powered vehicles. Additionally, some state, county and university employees may be eligible for special pricing – check with your employer for additional information.

Why is the residual / resale value of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) so low? Will BEVs ever become profitable to produce and market?

BEV residual values are low partly because of the $7,500 federal tax credit and $3,000 or more in local incentives. This discount is almost immediately reflected in resale prices and some EVs have experienced low resale values, particularly for earlier EVs with a range of under 100 miles. This means that used car buyers can purchase them for very affordable prices, from $5,000-$10,000, and they make a great second car in a household. For this reason, you may want to consider buying a used EV. 

Another option is leasing a new EV, which often have great lease terms, better than gas cars, and you have no risk of depreciation. You could also trade-in every few years to take advantage of battery range improvements. 

Other EVs like Teslas have some of the lowest depreciation in the industry, with the Model 3 only seeing 10% depreciation versus industry average of 39% after 3 years.

BEVs are profitable now for manufacturers at scale. Tesla reportedly makes as much as 25% gross margins on vehicles, but is investing heavily to scale up production with new factories - thus why they don’t always show a quarterly profit.

Do the calculated costs for maintenance include replacement of a bad battery? What is the typical lifetime of an EV battery? Which company has the longest battery life?

EV batteries typically have a warranty that covers 100,000 miles, but can cover more – for example, 2020 Toyota EVs come with a 10-year 150,000 mile warranty. The batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle, and the lower maintenance costs we cite do not incorporate a battery replacement. 

Tesla is widely considered the automaker with the most advanced batteries, with some high mileage vehicles lasting over 300,000 miles on a battery.

Are there ways to support working class Black people and people of color to be able to afford EVs?

People who live in the most polluted parts of California often have the least access to clean energy resources like electric vehicles and solar power that can help clean up the air and reduce their energy costs. Access Clean California helps residents with low and moderate incomes get money and other benefits to help them make the switch.You can use CEC’s unique Access Clean CA link to find out which incentives you could qualify for, including those that have enhanced assistance amounts available to folks from low-to-moderate income and working class families. 

Do tax credits apply equally to hybrids or just plug in vehicles?

Hybrids do not qualify for the federal tax credit; only PHEVs and BEVs are eligible, and the amount depends on battery size.

Which rebates apply to used vehicles?

SCE’s Clean Fuel Rewards $1,000 rebate can be used on used vehicles. The Clean Vehicle Assistance Program described above can be used for used vehicles. 

Can you access financial incentives each time you buy an EV or are they only available for your first EV purchase?

You can get the incentives multiple times. Consult the fine print of each one for details.

At what point and to whom do you apply for these incentives?  In advance of selecting a car or after you purchase it?

You apply for the incentives after you purchase the car for most of the programs except the income-limited Clean Vehicle Assistance Program. Consult each program’s details.

Solar Options

Can solar be used to charge an EV? Why don't EVs have solar panels to help with charging?

EVs do not have solar panels because there is not enough space to provide much power, even if you covered the whole car roof and parked in the sun all day you might only get less than 10 miles of range. You may also want to park it in the shade when you can. A better solution is to solar on your house or carport and charge that way. You can learn more about solar.

Solar panels deteriorate over time – do you need to replace them over time? 

Most solar systems sold today come with a 25-year warranty and micro-inverters that offer more output and protection against shade. 

Are there companies that offer a car, solar panel and an at-home charging station bundle purchase option for a reduced price?

Not that we are aware of. Tesla sells all those things, and more.

What is the most economical way to expand a solar system to accommodate an EV?

The AC type of panels each have a micro-inverter and can be added as building blocks as you want. Each panel is sort of an AC generation appliance. It takes about 2 kilowatts of solar (about $6,000-$7,000) to provide enough power to drive an EV 12,000 miles per year. Solar is a great investment for an EV as you may pay off the panels within a few years and then drive for a couple decades for free!

Environmental Impact

What is the environmental impact of EV batteries? Can they be recycled at end of life?

Many lifecycle analyses and reports have found that EVs are much cleaner than gas cars. Many studies are also looking at secondary uses for EV batteries in stationary storage for solar/wind farms or to provide grid services. Scientists are conducting research into the environmental impact of EV batteries, to decrease environmental impacts, and to recycle them. Many consumer lithium batteries, which have shorter lifespans than EV batteries, are being recycled, and automakers have plans to develop large EV battery recycling plants when the used batteries are available. In regards to greenhouse gas emissions, battery electric vehicles repeatedly show a much lower footprint over their lifetime than do gas-powered vehicles, particularly in California where much of our electrical grid is powered by renewable sources.

Does charging an EV with a natural gas power plant produce less CO2 emissions than an efficient gas car?

Yes – an EV is much more efficient than a gas car, see this Union of Concerned Scientists report on the environmental impacts of charging a car in different states with different fuel mixes. In general all US electric grids are getting cleaner as renewables replace gas and coal. California has no coal plants and some of the cleanest electricity in the country, and a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2045.