Once a niche form of transportation for the few that could afford them, electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly becoming the norm in Southern California. Not only can EV drivers save thousands of dollars on fuel costs, attractive incentives are available to those who decide to make the switch. In SDG&E's service territory alone (San Diego and south Orange counties), more than 50,000 motorists have “gone electric.” 

The clean transportation movement is gaining new momentum. On Sept. 23, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles in California by 2035. This unprecedented order aims to reduce the state’s carbon emissions - a key contributor to climate change - by 35%. 

In support of this groundswell movement, SDG&E participates every year in National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), which is being held this year from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4. National Drive Electric Week is “a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles and more.” 

Now in its 10th year, NDEW will be different this year due to COVID-19-related safety and health protocols. For the first time, organizers are adding virtual events.

So, aside from the environmental benefits and saving some money, why go electric? 

EV impact in San Diego 

First and foremost, EVs are fun to drive, more convenient to fuel than gas cars (just plug it into a standard household outlet), help create local jobs in new areas such as EV charger installation, vastly reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and help improve air quality. 

Did you know that transportation accounts for 55% of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the City of San Diego? At SDG&E, we’re working to spur local efforts to reduce GHGs. To date, we have installed more than 3,000 charging stations at 255 locations throughout our region to enable the transition to zero-emission vehicles. 

"The time for climate action is now," said Estela de Llanos, Vice President of Clean Transportation, Sustainability, and Chief Environmental Officer at SDG&E. "We need to be bold and we aren't going to get there without tackling the transportation sector. It's the biggest source of GHG emissions and is a significant source of air pollution. Together, we get to shape the future by reimagining transportation."

Aside from environmental benefits, EVs also have significantly lower maintenance costs because they don’t require oil change, coolant, transmission fluid, belts or other engine parts. Some estimates show that EV drivers save roughly 30% on maintenance costs. 

Assuming an average of 25 miles per gallon and average miles driven per year at 11,500, SDG&E customers can save around $1,150/year fueling their vehicle with electricity.*

The possibilities and benefits of going electric are numerous. If you purchased an EV after the March 1, 2019 deadline, you could be eligible for a Climate Credit rebate. To learn more, please visit: https://www.sdge.com/limited-ev-purchase-credit. 

NDEW and the week ahead 

For more information and NDEW updates, please be sure to check in on our NewsCenter and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter). Also, to keep up with NDEW’s schedule of virtual events and volunteer opportunities, please visit: https://driveelectricweek.org.

*Assumption based on 11,500 miles/year, 25 MPG, charging during EV-TOU-5 super off-peak pricing (9 cents/kWh) compared to $3.25/gallon of gasoline.