Electric Vehicles Benefit Wealthy Californians in Air Quality Improvement

A new study analyzing California's electric vehicle rebate program found that while EVs are reducing pollution, only affluent areas are benefiting. Wealthier areas saw much higher air pollution reductions compared to disadvantaged communities, which are more likely to live near fossil fuel infrastructure and in high traffic areas. Disadvantaged communities only received about 7% of rebates through the state program, and chargers are less likely to be found in rural and lower income communities, making EVs even more inaccessible. The study calls for further research to look at the full lifecycle of electric vehicles and their manufacturing's environmental concerns.