In Southern California, I would say that the vast majority of fuel efficient cars on the road were Prius, Leafs, and a few Chevy Volts just before the pandemic. Teslas were considered more of a luxury car so they were there, but not as many. At that time, I would say that you would see 1 out every 20-25 cars being a hybrid or EV.

Over this weekend, I was at a busy intersection in Los Angeles and at least half the cars that I drove pass or were around me were EVs or Hyrbids of various brands. I know it’s a small sample size, but I would say that we’re now looking at about 1 out of every 10-12 vehicles in Los Angeles being an EV or hybrid.

The way you can really tell the large jump in EVs in particular are the long lines waiting to charge cars at an Electrify America station. Pre-pandemic, there were no lines. Today, there are long lines even at 1am at the popular EA level three stations.

For me, this is great to see. But, I am also aware that California has done a lot to promote EVs/Hybrids over the last several years to make this a thing. The other thing that has helped is that there are numerous charging stations around my city. Granted, many of these are level 2 chargers. But I have 8 charging points within walking distance from my house. We still need a lot more level 3 chargers, but my city has a very good spread of level 2 chargers throughout the city with many more to come.

For those that do not live in California, are you also seeing a boom in EVs/Hyrbids. I’m curious to see if this is what you see if your living in the midwest or the south.

  • Etrigone@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Silicon Valley here, if actually outside (bedroom community of sorts). EVs are everywhere. The campus I work on has enough EVs of similar make/model to what I have - '19 Bolt EV Premier - such that when I pick up my gf she has to double check to make sure it’s me driving before she gets in. The on-campus chargers pretty much always have people using them, there’s lots, and they’re actually charging. We have more than is normal too.

    Still large non-hybrids, regular ICEs and so on, almost to the point that I’m noticing them more. But then I travel to visit family in the midwest and it’s back to the mid-late teens in what I see.

    A friend from northern Europe was actually the first person I heard say California is kind of a different country than the rest of the US. From his perspective, we could (should? probably not & can’t) be in the EU.