Carol B., is a 62-year-old living on a fixed income in rural Closser County. Life was becoming increasingly difficult without reliable transportation. Her old truck was constantly breaking down, and eventually, it failed its smog test. “I spent thousands of dollars trying to fix it,” she says. “When it finally gave out, I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
That’s when Carol discovered DCAP. “I applied, and the support I got from Teresa, my counselor, was incredible. She was kind, responsive, and really helped move the process along—especially after my truck completely died. I had to get a rental car just to get around.”
Thanks to DCAP, Carol was able to purchase a 2022 Nissan Leaf SV. “It’s my first EV, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting to love it this much,” she laughs. “But everything about it is easy. I don’t have to deal with gas, oil changes, or smog checks. It just works—and it works every day.”
Living in a remote area, reliability means everything to Carol. “Without a vehicle, you can’t do anything out here. This car lets me get groceries, go to doctor appointments, and help out my elderly neighbors.”
But her impact goes even further. “I care for a lot of animals. Just this morning, I fed 56 horses,” she shares. “They depend on me, and now I have a car I can count on. That matters.”
Beyond the practical benefits, Carol is also motivated by the environmental impact. “I grew up here, and the air quality just isn’t what it used to be. It’s hotter, smoggier, and hard on our animals. I didn’t want to contribute to that anymore.”
When asked if she’d recommend DCAP to others, she doesn’t hesitate: “It’s a great program. For the people. For the planet. For anyone who needs help and thinks an EV isn’t possible—it is.”