For Naomi, switching to an electric vehicle was not about getting around, it was about making a difference.
“I’ve always been passionate about protecting the environment,” she says. “When I learned to drive in my parents’ electric car, I saw firsthand how easy it was to go clean. I knew when I got my own car, I wanted to do the same.”
In June, Naomi purchased a used 2021 Tesla Model 3 through the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP). “I heard about DCAP from a family friend whose daughter had gone through the program,” she recalls. “I figured it couldn’t hurt to apply, and when I got accepted, it made such a big difference in my life.”
Now living independently, her EV gives her freedom and purpose. “It’s so much easier to get to school and work without having to borrow a car,” Naomi says. “And I love that I can do that while helping the environment.”
The financial support from DCAP also made her dream car affordable. “My Tesla had about 30,000 miles, and in the end, I’ll pay around $12,300,” she says. “That’s about half the price for that kind of car—and it even came with charging support, so I don’t have to pay for gas or charging right now.”
“I’m glad I’m not putting out as many emissions into the world as before if I was driving gas,” she says. “It feels good knowing my car is clean and part of a bigger solution.”
She encourages others to apply, even if it takes time. “The process is worth it,” Naomi says. “Programs like DCAP help people like me make sustainable choices that actually fit our budget.”