California continues to lead the nation in EV adoption, even without federal tax incentives. In fact, electric and other zero-emission vehicles made up about 23 percent of new car sales in 2025, with more than 2.5 million new EVs sold since 2011 in the state.
Accelerating EV adoption even further could help California tackle three critical challenges at once — rising electricity costs, power outages due to extreme weather, and poor air quality. Here’s how EVs can help.
- Cheaper electricity for all: Tapping into EV batteries is a cost-effective way to expand the electricity grid without having to pass the costs of building new infrastructure on to ratepayers. During peak demand times, relying on the energy stored in EV batteries can reduce strain on the electrical grid and lower electricity costs for everyone, even those who don’t own EVs.
- More reliable electricity: EVs with bidirectional capabilities can export power to a home or even individual appliances during power outages, keeping the lights on while the grid is down. Grid managers can also pay EV owners to send power back to the grid during periods of high demand, which reduces demand for polluting fossil fuel generators.
- Cleaner, healthier air: Replacing polluting, gas-guzzling cars with EVs leads to less air pollution and improved health, according to at least one new study. Traffic-related air pollution is a concern for millions of Californians, especially in urban areas and throughout the Central Valley, with the potential to significantly harm respiratory and cardiovascular health.
The California Energy Commission’s recent report, A Roadmap to Unlocking the Benefits of Bidirectional Charging, shows that existing EV batteries have approximately 18.5 gigawatts of potential energy storage capacity, more than eight times the maximum output from the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant, the largest single electricity source in California!
To bring the benefits of EVs to more Californians, I’m thrilled to share that The Climate Center and Union of Concerned Scientists are co-sponsoring SB 1282 (Becker). This bill is designed to use EV batteries to strengthen the state’s electrical grid, support the clean energy transition, and save ratepayers money. The bill will be heard in the Senate Energy Committee in April.
To learn more about SB 1282 and how California can accelerate the transition to EVs despite the federal government’s opposition, please join me for The Climate Center’s next webinar, How Electric Vehicles and Solar Can Cut Costs and Boost Energy Resilience, on March 26 at 10 am PT. I hope to see you there! You can also take action today in support of SB 1282.
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