If you've browsed an issue or two of EcoHappenings (P.S. Thanks for reading! Did we mention that you look dashing as you scroll emails today?), you've heard all about our EV Financial Incentive Clinics, our EV 101 workshops and our Ride and Drives. 

So, who goes to these things, and what happens after? Well, we talked to the (then) teen and twenty-somethings that Acterra had guided into their first EVs ever.

We've got Tiff, who stacked so many rebates they slashed the purchase price of a brand new car down to a MUCH more manageable $18k; Max, who through our webinars, 1-on-1 consultations, and a whole lotta research was matched with the right EV to take him all over multiple counties for work; And Jenny, a member of our Acterra Student Ambassador Program (ASAP) whose used Tesla wasn't too big, wasn't too small, and was able to reduce her carbon footprint juuust right!

After you read their stories, be sure to scroll for info about e-Bikes, EV incentives that are going away, Acterra's September electrification events , AND ways you can advocate for reach codes! Get ready... it's an EcoHappenings e-stravaganza! 

Tiff - New Chevy Bolt

The Beginning
When Tiff was a teen, they thought cars weren’t for them. “I’m a biker,” they said. And EVs? No way! “I think my main understanding as a teenager was that [EVs] had a really small range. And so then I was like, ‘oh, well then I’ll never get one.’”

Fast forward to their 20s: a commute with FOUR modes of transportation made them reconsider. “I made very little money, but also was borrowing everyone’s cars and they were starting to get tired of it.” For their first car, it had to be easy, and most importantly, affordable.

Phase 1 - The Research
They started to explore EVs: “I heard that there were all these discounts.” To get started, Tiff worked with some of our partner organizations (linked in the incentives roundup below - we love you, partners!).

Armed with spreadsheets, they joined an Acterra webinar for extra guidance. “I wanted to confirm and double check and make sure I got all of the rebates that I could.”

Tiff assembled roughly $18K in grants, rebates, and tax credits, slashing the price of a new car in half. With a little extra help from family, they became the proud owner of a brand new Chevy Bolt.

Phase 2 - The Charging
As a renter without dedicated charging, Tiff got creative: an install credit and utility program incentives brought charging to their family’s home while they lived there. In other apartments, they used fast chargers at their local market. “That was actually cheaper than our own electricity prices.” Now, they plug in through their kitchen: “Although I don’t know if we’ll keep it up for the winter.”

Phase 3 - The Payoff
Tiff is really putting their Bolt to the test. It’s lugged 4 humans, 2 folding kayaks, and a whole mess of gear to Tomales Bay, and Tetris-ed 8 chairs picked up from a furniture liquidator. “I mostly use the car for other life things, like errands and stuff.” Tiff also uses their EV to pick up groceries for mutual aid and give friends airport rides. Furniture AND favors? Their Bolt does it all.

The last unexpected benefit? Square footage! Tiff has turned their Bolt into a climate-controlled bonus room. “I used to have a really small apartment,” they said. “You can be doing therapy in your car, like on the street or in the garage, and you’re in your heated seat and you have some privacy.” IYKYK, fellow roommate-havers.

Jenny - Used Tesla Model Y

When she was with her folks thinking about her first car, ASAP student Jenny was looking for the perfect fit. “I picked it [the Tesla model Y] because it’s very drivable! Not too big, or, not too small in size.” she tells us. 

Her favorite part of EV life, hands down, is the no-fuss driving life that owning an EV brings. “One of my favorite things is that I don’t have to stop at gas stations anymore. No dealing with fumes, no oil changes, and way less maintenance compared to a regular car. It’s super convenient to just plug it in at night and wake up with a full charge in the morning.”

She loves what an enjoyable driving experience it’s been, but her EV has one extra safety side effect: “Since it’s so quiet, I have to be extra careful around pedestrians because they might not hear the car coming.”

Good looking out, Jenny! Have you ever even lived in the Bay Area if you haven’t been snuck up on by a Prius? 

So is she an EV convert? Jenny says, yes! I love driving an EV because it makes me feel like I’m doing my part to reduce my carbon footprint. Overall, I think EVs are a great option for anyone who wants to help the planet and still have a really easy, enjoyable driving experience.

Max - Used Chevy Volt

Let’s be honest, purchasing a car is one of the LARGEST financial decisions you will ever make. Max knew that, and that’s how he found us. “[Acterra] mentioned, ‘hey, you know, we offer free one on one EV consultations’ . And I was like, ‘oh, for free? Yeah, why not? I'll talk through my specific circumstance.’” he told us. “There's a lot of people willing to help with this. This is great.”

His new consulting job meant a 40-mile-each-way commute and a need for 200+ miles of range, which narrowed his options. “I definitely wanted to go full electric,” he told us. With guidance, he landed on a used Chevy Bolt. 

“They were made in America; those were union-made cars,” he said about his purchase. “That really resonated with me; I liked having that assurance behind the labor practices.”

When it came to charging, he knew what to do. The Acterra consultant, looking at his commute, told him to go straight for Level 2. “Those are like the truest words that could have been told to me,” Max nodded. “I'm so glad I went for it.”

Now to get the landlord on board. “I started looking into our provider, Alameda Municipal Power, and luckily they had some incentives where you could get a rebate on buying a used EV and installing a charger.” After learning all the ins-and-outs of the setup, Max made his pitch: “Here’s what we need. They're gonna put in a big outlet and I could pay for it. The utility company will actually pay us back a little bit, which would be nice, and then we'll just have [the charger] there as part of the house.”

So did it work? “[The landlord] was on board,” Max revealed. A bonus? “He even made this little stand to coil up the charging cord on, which was a nice gesture.”

Still hesitant to sign up for one of our webinars ? Fear not, says Max. “It was convenient to just, you know, block out an hour or whatever on my calendar to join the webinar from wherever I was at. I didn’t have to really participate, I just sat and learned from some experts in the field. If you're feeling lost or if you're feeling confused, they can really help you.”

This article is part of our First Car Focus initiative. Acterra, in partnership with Electrify America,  is working to bring
accessible and inspiring EV education to families looking to purchase their first time drivers a car. Visit our EV page to learn more! 

One question Team Acterra member, and Programs Associate, Naomi gets asked at our Ride and Drives is... so what about bikes ? 

Well, turns out Naomi is a huge cycling enthusiast (and frequent bike commuter! ) and wanted to share with you an article about the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in August 2025. 

Thanks, Naomi! 

Did you know? You likely already have all the power you need to fully electrify. Better still, jump-starting your plan now will let you take advantage of rebates and tax breaks before they disappear . 

Whether you want to upgrade aging appliances and systems such as a water heater, an HVAC/furnace, or get that performance induction cooktop you’ve been thinking about, you will see many benefits: Electric replacements perform better, are more efficient and safer, and don’t put combustion by-products into your indoor or outdoor air. 

What about capacity? It’s been shown tha t nearly all homes can fully electrify (including an EV) on a 100-amp electric panel. If you have a furnace and AC now, you likely won’t need additional circuits for a heat pump HVAC which heats and cools. If you have a gas water heater, there are heat pump options that plug into a 120V outlet. 

Rebates are plentiful (especially for limited income), and federal tax creditsare going away by the end of the year (Sept. 30 for electric vehicles), so utilize these supports now . 

Renters: Let your landlord know about time-sensitive savings opportunities. And check out renter-friendly electrification strategies that might work on an individual level. 

Bay Area Resources, including full-service, emergency appliance replacement, and more:

Ava Community Energy (Alameda County and parts of San Joaquin County)

Central Coast Community Energy (San Benito County)

MCE (Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano Counties)

Peninsula Clean Energy (San Mateo County)

Silicon Valley Clean Energy (Santa Clara County)

Rebate finder:  

SwitchIsOn.org Enter your zip code and the appliance you want to electrify for available rebates. Also search for products and contractors.

Municipal utilities with electrification services:

San Jose Clean Energy (San Jose)

Silicon Valley Power (City of Santa Clara)

Palo Alto Utilities (Palo Alto)

Alameda Municipal Power (City of Alameda)