Adrian Nikaein takes a closer look at an electric Porsche during the 2nd Annual Campus EV Car Show at CSUN on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Attendees were able to drive electric vehicles, talk to manufacturers and inspect all aspects of many models on display at the event which was organized by CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Juan Ventura stood on the sidewalk chatting with friends while taking a quick look at the shiny new electric vehicles lined up as part of the second annual EV Car Show held at California State University, Northridge on Wednesday, April 26 .
“Gas prices are pretty expensive right now,” said the 18-year-old computer engineering major. “Plus, there’s not even a lot of maintenance on these electric cars, just change the tires and inspect the brakes. That saves you a lot of money.”
Still, Ventura kept his distance, not speaking to the car’s representatives or asking for a spin test. He drives his father’s car to school and can’t afford his own. Asked about buying a battery electric vehicle (BEV), he said: “Maybe in the future, but right now, I don’t know.”
While electric cars are hard to keep on dealer lots these days, it’s not a purchase that many low- and middle-income earners can afford. And the price of a new one can be daunting.
Doug Schwartz, who is semi-retired, put his gas-powered Porsche up for sale, but so far he hasn’t gotten a bite. He figured a new BEV with about 200 miles of range on a charge was fine. So what’s stopping him? “I would say the cost. Prices are a concern,” he said.
The variety of cars on display at CSUN were almost exclusively mid-range and high-end EVs: BMWs, Porches, Volvos, and new startups from Lucid and Vinfast, a Vietnam-based company new to the US market. Missing were the Chevy Bolt models, which start around $29,000.
With the suggested retail price of electric vehicles about $10,000 more than gas cars, sticker shock can be an obstacle to ownership. However, many note that over time, plugging in a battery electric vehicle saves the owner hundreds of dollars a year in fuel. And there are fewer maintenance costs, with no need for oil changes or adjustments.
Inside CSUN’s Sustainability Institute, a panel discussion on industry, sales and charging infrastructure shed some light on the state of electric vehicles in Southern California. Most panelists said sales are picking up, although supply chain issues remain a persistent problem.
Brandon Beckman, director of field operations for Galpin, a multi-brand dealership with roots in the San Fernando Valley, couldn’t help but smile when asked about BEV sales at his store.
“(Ford’s) Mustang Mach-E has been a phenomenal competitor,” he said. “We can’t keep them in stock.” This particular BEV starts at $45,995 and, depending on batteries and other extras, can cost $63,995. It has a battery range of about 300 miles.
Same story from Scott Stanley, CEO of Porsche of Woodland Hills, also on the panel. Its most popular BEV is the Taycan, a crossover with a range of 250 to 270 miles on a single charge. It costs around $100,000. “The last couple of years it’s really taken off,” he said.
Stanley said his salespeople explain how the electric vehicle works, how to charge it and how to find charging infrastructure or how to install a charger at home. “Once we had people driving them, it was a no-brainer,” he said.
Panelist Zach Jennings, CEO of Chargie, said his company is focusing on installing electric vehicle chargers in condo and apartment complexes. “We’re targeting apartment buildings because we think it’s an underserved area,” he said.
Back at the auto show, Ed Jackiewicz, professor of geography in CSUN’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, was enthralled. The driver of a petrol Subaru Forester is considering getting behind the wheel of a BEV one day.
“I wish I had one,” Jackiewicz said. “It’s good for the environment. Good for my wallet. Good for everything,” he said, before test driving one of the Volvo models. Still, he had his eye on a blue Volkswagen ID.4 parked next to him. “That one looks really neat,” he said, noting that he was just watching.
California will require all new cars sold in 2035 and beyond to be zero-emission vehicles. This includes BEVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. The state’s Clean Vehicle Rebate scheme offers rebates of up to $7,500 on select models.
Taking gas-powered cars off the roads would reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global climate change and reduce smog-causing tailpipe emissions.
But not everyone at the show was a believer.
Alana Radar, 31, takes the bus to and from her workplace. His family only has one car.
“I take public transport. I really don’t think buying a new electric car is good for the environment,” he said. Radar said that driving a single-occupancy car, even an electric one, does not solve LA’s traffic problems, and the cost of maintaining roads and utility infrastructure must be considered.
Dave Deis, 53, said: “Of course electric cars are the way of the future.” But, he added, “this is not a panacea.”
