18 September 2025You Got a Gas Car, I Got a Ticket to Cleaner Air: Retiring Your Older ICE Car for an EV

In our last EcoHappenings ([link removed] we heard from 3 young people who had, with help from Acterra and our many MANY workshops ([link removed] consults ([link removed] and events ([link removed] decided to make their first car an EV. But, what about those of us who have driven around the proverbial block a few times?
This week, we chat with two event attendees ([link removed] in a different stage of their lives, who decided to take the plunge and trade in their older ride for an EV.
In case you missed it (we don't judge - you're busy!) catch up on our last newsletter ([link removed] and our electrification incentive roundup, because some of these incentives will be going away in just over a week! 
Linden (pictured with Rylee, owner of the backseat)- New Toyota Rav 4 Plug-In-Hybrid
Sometimes, when you’re just trying to be a good person and minimize your impact on this world, you get stuck, like a Charlie Brown kite, in a decision tree of your ethics and values. For some, it involves a frustrated breakdown in a local market as you wonder if that quinoa avocado salad you planned for dinner was funding cartel violence. For Linden, it was a different type of breakdown: one that involved her aging Sonata hybrid on the side of I-580 on a Saturday night. That was enough.

Linden felt going fully electric was the “right” thing to do, but was hesitant. “You know, my concerns were things like range anxiety, but also, well, if I get a plug-in hybrid, then I’m still going to be using gasoline,” she mused.


On the other hand, there were the EV batteries to consider. “The minerals that go into making a battery seem like they're sort of hard to come by,” she thought. Would spreading these rare mineral resources across multiple lower-range and hybrid vehicles, like the ones she was considering, ultimately lead to greater EV availability and be a more sustainable solution?

Linden read on. She asked around, and ultimately came to Acterra for a 1-on-1 consultation ([link removed] She needed to talk to someone in-the-know about all the pros and cons of plug-ins vs. full electric, “from a practical standpoint and from an environmental standpoint,” she said.We were there to help ([link removed]


Fresh from a zoom call with one of our EV Consultants and armed with an action plan of rebates and incentives to apply for ([link removed] she was ready to find the car she landed on: a Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. “I was like, ‘OK, I'm good, I'll go get that one.’”

Linden wasted no time testing it out. A trip rafting the Yampa and Green rivers in Utah and drives down to Southern California typically resulted in 60 or 70mpg. All that gas she was worried about? “I don't go to the gas station nearly as much as I used to. In fact, sometimes I go and I'm like, ‘wait, what, how do I do this again?’ I think my first year, I had three tanks of gas the whole time.”
Janean - Used Volvo C40
“I bugged the heck out of Irvin,” Janean confessed as she talked about her consultations ([link removed] with our Beneficial Electrification Manager. “I asked him all kinds of questions… ones that Gen Z wouldn’t have had to ask him. BUT,” she added, “he got us through it and the application, put it through, was patient, and now we have this wonderful car.”



As their old car started to fail, Janean and her husband became regulars at our events ([link removed] They signed on to two of our online workshops ([link removed] and came out to our Ride and Drives to talk to EV owners in person ([link removed] “The choices are pretty vast out there," she said. “We weren't really honed in on anything. EVs were all new to us and we didn’t know a whole lot.”


Once she realized we could help her get $10,000 for trading in her 2006 Avalon ([link removed] through the Clean Cars 4 All program, Janean was ready to make the switch to an EV. “It was a heck of a deal for us!” she exclaimed.

Through conversations with other EV owners ([link removed] and, later on, some serious YouTubing, Janean found the one: a gently used Volvo C40. A perfect car for her, especially with mobility issues that started to make driving difficult and an aversion to more spage-age features of newer cars. “There is no problem for me to get in and out,” she shared, “and it's more like a normal car when it comes to things like opening the door. It has actual door handles! And the screen inside is so easy to use.”


Speaking of easy, Janean, once prepared to head to local fast chargers with a book to read, was surprised how simple charging was. Having just moved into a rental townhome, she plugs it directly into the garage wall, no special equipment needed. “We tapped into a special rate with PG&E,” she said. “We have it on a timer so that the charge starts at midnight and turns off at 3pm. How easy is that? It doesn’t cost us a whole lot.”


Janean knows this whole process can be a lot, but she has some advice for her peers. “Don't be intimidated. Get excited about it. That's my recommendation, because it's a learning process, but it's fun. It's fun!”
This article is part of our First Car Focus initiative. Acterra, in partnership with Electrify America, ([link removed] is working to bring

accessible and inspiring EV education to families looking to purchase their first time drivers a car. Visit our EV page ([link removed] to learn more! It's Back - Our Young Professionals Group Needs You!
Are you between the ages of 21 and 40, and want to make a difference in your community? Join Acterra’s Young Professionals Group.

The Young Professionals Group (YPG) is composed of Bay Area junior and mid-career professionals who want to combat climate change and its wide-reaching impacts.

It’s a big fight and we need you!

([link removed] THE YPG
([link removed]
Still not convinced? Listen to the former President of Acterra's YPG, Carlos M.
"I joined [YPG] because I care about climate change.

The way I can contribute is by helping to foster a community of like-minded young professionals.

We offer each other career opportunities, networking opportunities, and we learn from each other about the issues of the day, ultimately actually making a dent in the climate crisis.

Electric Vehicles 101 / Vehículos Eléctricos 101
[Continúa en Español abajo]


Join Acterra and Electrify America for a webinar on everything for Electric Vehicles (EVs)! We will be going over the basic functionality of EVs, how and when to charge, and the benefits of owning an EV. We will also cover available rebates and incentives to make purchasing an EV accessible to everyone.
----------------------------------------------------

¡Únete a Acterra y Electrify America en un seminario web sobre todo lo relacionado con los vehículos eléctricos (VE)! Repasaremos su funcionamiento básico, cómo y cuándo cargarlos, y las ventajas de tener uno. También hablaremos sobre los descuentos e incentivos disponibles para que la compra de un VE sea accesible para todos.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 6 – 7PM
Virtual
([link removed]
([link removed]
Marin Green@Home Tour


Join us for a FREE event to explore innovative, electrified homes.

Attendees will have the opportunity to see firsthand a wide variety of electric appliances and environmentally conscious home upgrades, including energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling, heat pump water heaters, induction cooktops, rainwater catchment systems, compost bins, electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, battery storage systems, and more.


Attendees will also be able to engage with tour hosts to learn about their choices, including financial considerations, rebate programs, contractors, and appliance models.
Saturday, Sept. 27, 11 AM – 3PM
Locations throughout Marin
([link removed]
([link removed]
Electric Vehicle Frunk-or-Treat
Cruise on by Sunnyvale's Electric Vehicle (EV) Frunk-or-Treat!


At this family-friendly event, you'll visit the “frunk” of proud EV owners and complete our scaEVenger hunt to score some delicious treats. There's even a costume contest!

In addition to all the spooky fun, this event allows you to view popular EVs available, ask questions about each model, and compare/contrast features.

Kids welcome and costumes are encouraged!

Want personalized guidance on your next EV purchase? Sign up for a complimentary consultation at the event and get expert rebate advice tailored to you!

Saturday, Oct. 25, 11AM – 3PM
Sunnyvale
([link removed]
([link removed]

Retrofitting existing buildings to replace gas appliances with more efficient electric ones can effectively cut greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment. This month, an active time for Bay Area cities pursuing building “reach codes” (i.e., codes amended to achieve energy efficiency levels beyond state requirements), has had mixed results.


At the September 9 San Jose City Council meeting, building electrification advocates representing organizations like Acterra, Menlo Spark, Mothers Out Front, and others showed up to comment in support of two proposed single-family home reach code ordinances known as “AC to Heat Pump” and “Electric Readiness.” What the ordinances proposed: When a home installs air conditioning for the first time, or replaces an old A/C system, the new system should be a heat pump (which can either provide cooling or heating); electric readiness refers to installing appropriate wiring ahead of time to enable electric appliances to be used at a later date. San Jose City Council’s vote, a dead 5-5 tie, meant that both ordinances did not pass.

Nevertheless, progress was strong elsewhere in the Bay Area: AC to Heat Pump and Electric Readiness ordinances did recently pass in the cities of Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Moreno Valley, and Santa Cruz.


Both San Francisco and Oakland have passed reach code measures. However, City staff did not think AC to Heat Pump provisions were appropriate due to historic temperate weather, although supervisors may be questioning that decision this week ([link removed] The City of San Mateo will take up the topic of reach codes at its Sustainability & Infrastructure Commission hearing on October 8.



If you’re wondering what kinds of financial incentives are out there for home electrification, check out this blog post ([link removed] on local (Palo Alto in this case), state, and federal incentives, and be sure to visit the websites of community choice aggregators around the Bay Area for more resources.


In Sacramento, the Legislature took an extra week plus a Saturday wrapping up their 2025 session. Among legislation of note were a number of Senate Energy Chair Josh Becker’s efforts like SB 326 on wildfire safety and “behind the meter” bills AB 825 (formerly SB 540, western grid regionalization), 541 (load shifting) and 254 a generation and transmission financing omnibus). Assemblymember Mark Berman’s AB 1167 would restrict use of utility ratepayer funds for lobbying, Senator Dave Cortese’s SB 30 would regulate diesel-powered trains post-decommissioning and San Diego’s Chris Ward’s AB 368 directs the California Energy Commission to evaluate and adopt certified Passive House standards as an alternative compliance pathway. Lastly, Senator Scott Weiner’s hotly-contested SB 79 would promote development projects along transit lines like Caltrain and BART. And now the wait begins as Governor Newsom has an October 12 deadline to sign or veto legislation.
 
Endorsed Events

Sun Day: March for Climate Justice - San José
Sept. 21, 12:30 – 2:30 PM. Link ([link removed]

Bay Area SunShares Informational Webinar
Sept. 29, 6 PM. Link ([link removed]

Our Case for the Future: The Youth Plaintiffs of Lighthiser v. Trump

Sept. 24, 5:30 – 6:30 PM. Link ([link removed]

2025 Indicators Report: Local Food Actions for a Cooler Future

Oct. 1, 9 – 11 AM. Link ([link removed]

Bike Palo Alto (It's Back!)

Oct. 5, 1 – 3 PM. Link ([link removed]

Fourth Annual Climate Summit for San Mateo County: Sustaining Community Power in Climate Action

Oct. 9, 8 AM – 5 PM. Link ([link removed]


Career Opportunities

Veggielution
Environmental Education Coordinator; Development Manager. Link ([link removed]



Acterra has newsletters for everyone. Our offerings include sustainable food, electric vehicles, EV charging equity, young professionals, and more. Click the "Subscribe to our Newsletters" link below and make sure to select each one you want to receive, even if you are already subscribed!
Subscribe to our Newsletters ([link removed]
Sign up for the Climate Action Now app (Group 24) ([link removed] and take action every day.
([link removed] - Your Gift Makes a Difference!
([link removed]
Our Contact Information
Acterra
3921 E Bayshore Rd Suite 210
Palo Alto, CA 94303
650.962.9876
[link removed] ([link removed]

Unsubscribe ([link removed] | Manage email preferences ([link removed]