EVs Are Cleaning Up California’s Air, But Mostly for the Wealthy

A new study finds that California’s electric vehicle rebate program is resulting in cleaner air, but wealthier communities so far are reaping most of the benefits.

Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Miami analyzed the geographic distribution of more than 400,000 rebates issued in California since 2010 for the purchase of electric vehicles. They then modeled estimated emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, as well as PM 2.5 — particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller in length that’s found in vehicle exhaust and power ...