For a state that’s diving headfirst into the promotion of electric vehicles, California seems to be hitting the brakes on sales. According to CalMatters, in 2024, just 25.3 percent of new cars registered were electric. This is barely an increase from the previous year, which was 25 percent.
Despite California’s aggressive push toward zero-emission vehicles, including a 2035 ban on new gas car sales, many families are reluctant to make the transition. Parents in the community share concerns about convenience, infrastructure and long-term sustainability of electric vehicles (EV). These concerns, despite the push for environmentally sustainable cars, are enough to keep them using gas-powered vehicles. If California wants to encourage locals to make a switch, it needs to connect with the community to find and eliminate the sources of the stigma surrounding these electric vehicles.
Fueling remains a key barrier for purchasing electric vehicles. Prices at the Marin Gas & Auto Services in Larkspur are nearly five dollars per gallon for both premium and mid-grade gasoline. Gasoline isn’t cheap, especially in Northern California. In theory, this should make electric charging sound more convenient. However, parents have other concerns regarding the electric charging system, such as its inconvenience while waiting for the fueling process to finish.
Jaimie Nguyen, Redwood parent and driver of over twenty years, acknowledges that the time it takes to charge an EV is much longer than fueling a gas-powered one.
“If you’re not at a place where you can shop, you’re stuck in your car for the duration of [the] time it takes to charge it. You fill it up at a charging station, you could be there for up to 45 minutes,” Nguyen said.
Generally, gasoline refueling takes two to five minutes for a full tank. The lengthy duration of refueling an EV might seem okay, given that the chargers are placed in commercial areas, but Nguyen mentions a rising concern with leaving your charger unsupervised.
“My husband rented a fully electric vehicle, and he had to go charge it, and he parked, and there was a gentleman walking around saying, ‘Hey, can I use your credit card and I’ll give you cash if you charge my car?’” Nguyen said.
For the Nguyen family, there is a safety, trust and control risk that comes with the field of electric vehicles, and more specifically, their charging. The uncertainty surrounding public charging stations, especially at night or in unfamiliar areas, adds a layer of hesitation that makes some drivers uncomfortable.
Further research from Keele University uncovers that “Female EV drivers are more likely to feel apprehensive about using chargers late at night or in poorly lit areas due to fear for their personal safety.” This charging safety issue applies to those without a home charging station, but the mere purchase of a charging station is an added investment that ultimately dims some appeal.
Fellow Redwood parent and avid driver, Lisa Revelli, researched electric vehicles during her collegiate tenure and became increasingly aware of an overlooked issue within the common electric vehicle industry: the lithium battery.
“In design school, I researched lithium batteries being a power source. The manufacturing of these things leaves quite the carbon footprint. I don’t know how eco-friendly you can call an electric car like a Tesla, when the power source is hard to recycle…and energy intensive,” Revelli said.
A contributing factor to the community’s uncertainty about electric vehicles is their sole reliance on batteries. Tesla produced 1.77 million cars in 2024, each one containing a battery whose sustainability is in question. Residents who have conducted research, like Revelli and her family, are on the fence about the sustainability of electric vehicles.
The common battery-powered electric vehicle poses some issues, as highlighted by parents, but there is an alternative. Solar-powered vehicles, such as the upcoming Rivian model, are increasing in popularity, given their smaller carbon footprint during manufacturing and their self-sustaining energy source. However, parents point out a large issue in California’s attempts to incentivize renewable energy, especially in regards to charging such a vehicle.
Doris Chang, a parent living in downtown Tiburon, researched solar panels before purchasing a Rivian vehicle and decided to hold back on the hefty financial decision.
“I had just heard from a contractor that it would take, what, 40, 50 thousand to install solar panels on the roof. [The government] takes energy back [tax] and pay you back pennies, the cost of even having a way to charge, say, a Rivian [upcoming solar model], is basically like purchasing another vehicle, it’s ridiculous,” said Chang.
Even with growing awareness of climate change and a push for cleaner transportation, not all parents feel empowered to switch, especially when sustainability comes at a steep cost.
Yet another factor stalling the revolution of renewable transportation in California is the lack of financial incentive for purchasing the largely expensive, but eco-friendly option. As California races toward its goal of banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, the push for electric vehicles is stronger than ever, but not everyone is on board. For some drivers, the decision to switch isn’t just about going green, but about affordability, safety and infrastructure. Despite available rebates and incentives, concerns about charging, utility costs, and sustainability continue to stall the electric vehicle revolution.
If California wants to accelerate its transition to electric and renewable transportation, it must address the everyday barriers that real families face. That means expanding secure and accessible charging infrastructure, improving safety at public stations, and offering stronger, more practical financial incentives.
The first step is to connect with families across California regarding their issues with the current system and implement incentives accordingly. Until the community is inclined to purchase, California’s electric vehicle adoption rates will continue to stall. Especially for students preparing to enter the workforce or college, the idea of affording an EV, or even maintaining one, feels out of reach given the required investments. Without stronger incentives or affordability programs, widespread adoption is unlikely.
