Electric Cars For Sale in San Francisco, CA (2024)

FAQs

Is it worth buying electric car in California? ›

From a cost perspective, yes, it is a good time to buy. Federal and state incentives are bringing certain EVs on par with the cost of gas vehicles.

What is the best electric car? The best electric car is the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt, with an overall score of 9.2 out of 10. The best luxury electric car is the 2024 Tesla Model 3, with an overall score of 9.2 out of 10. What is the best electric SUV?

EV incentives from public utilities

For example, Pacific Gas and Electric entices residential customers with a California EV rebate of $1,000 for the purchase of a pre-owned electric car, while low-income residents may be eligible for a rebate of up to $4,000.

By the numbers: At a public charging station in California, it costs an average of $0.50 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to charge an electric car at a public charging station in California, according to data gathered by Stable Auto, an EV charger software developer. That's compared to the national average of $0.45 per kWh.

That means that any EV models from 2022 or older are eligible for a rebate during 2024. The Electrify Your Ride Program offers 3CE customers that purchase a new battery-electric vehicle with a rebate of $2,000. Customers that purchased a used battery-electric vehicle are eligible for a $1,000 rebate.

You will be able to claim up to $7,500 in credit against the federal income taxes you owe once you file for the year. You can only claim the EV tax credit during the year in which you purchased the vehicle. If you're also eligible for a tax refund, you'll receive both the refund and tax credit.

Income-qualified applicants may receive $4,000 based on their household level of income for the purchase or lease of a pre-owned EV. Customers who qualify for the Rebate Plus Option, are automatically approved for a $700 rebate for purchasing eligible EV charging equipment.

The California Air Resources Board offers point-of-sale rebates of up to $750 for the purchase or lease of a new all-electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through the Clean Fuel Reward Program. Eligible EVs must have a minimum battery capacity of 5 kilowatt-hours and be purchased from participating retailers.

The federal EV tax credit was also expanded in 2024. Up to $7,500 could be available to help you afford an EV. Many of these EV incentives are stackable. Use our nonprofit's guide below to learn about the rebate program and other electric car incentives in California.

Suppose you drive about 1,207 miles per month (Americans go an average of about 14,489 miles annually). For an EV, you will use about 402 kWh in that time frame. Using the U.S. household average of 16.88 cents per kWh, charging an electric car at home would cost nearly $68 per month.

How long does an electric car battery last? ›

Generally, EV car batteries last from 10 to 20 years. Certain factors like heat, cold, or swift charging times can negatively affect that and reduce performance. Manufacturers have already included protective measures like thermal management systems and charging restrictions.

The average cost of charging an electric car at home can vary depending on the electricity rates in your location and the fuel efficiency of your car. Assuming the efficiency of 3 miles per kWh and the national average electricity cost of $0.16 per kWh, it would cost $16 to charge your car for 300 miles at home.

A 2020 Consumer Reports study similarly showed that EV drivers tend to spend about 60 percent less each year on fuel costs compared to drivers of gas-powered cars.

Effective November 8, 2023, CVRP was closed to new applications. While the California rebate for electric cars is currently not accepting new applications, there are many other statewide and local incentives to driving EVs - including up to $12,000 from Clean Cars 4 All.

The pressure is on for California to meet its clean-vehicle goals. In less than two years, 35 percent of vehicles sold must have zero tailpipe emissions. And by 2035, all light-duty vehicles sold must be zero emissions.

"Generally, I find that charging an EV is less expensive than filling up a gas-powered car even in my neck of the woods, California, where we have the second-highest energy rates in the US," said CNET's 16-year auto and EV expert, Antuan Goodwin.