For Justin, a self-employed single dad in Southern California, switching to an electric vehicle wasn’t just about going green—it was about getting back on his feet. “I’ve been raising two daughters full-time for over a decade,” Justin shares. “Money’s always been tight, and I’ve had to be really smart with every dollar.”
A few years back, Justin bought a used 2011 Nissan Leaf. “Those only have about 60 miles of usable range, but I really liked having an electric car. It was great for dropping my kids off at school and around town, so I knew if I had the opportunity to be able to afford one that actually had significant range, that would be great.”
That’s when he saw a DCAP ad pop up on Facebook.
“I’d been keeping an eye out for used EVs with more range, but they were still too expensive—until DCAP came along. With the grant, plus the federal EV credit, I was finally able to afford a 2020 Chevy Bolt.”
That one decision changed a lot. “Now I can take delivery jobs to supplement my income. That car helps me make money. And I even passed down the Leaf to my daughter—now it’s her school car.”
Between the fuel savings (around $200/month) and the flexibility that comes with having a reliable car, the shift has been huge. “It’s like having your gas tank filled every night while you sleep. I charge it at home, and I even find free chargers while I’m out—Target, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods… it adds up.”
Plus, “it’s always a nice caveat, to hopefully be saving the planet for my children to grow up and then their children and their children, children’s children.”