President Biden has made conversion to E.V.s a pillar of climate policy. But government incentives mostly help affluent buyers, not average families.
Dianne and Robert Teglia with their Tesla sedans at their home in Carmel Valley, a well-to-do neighborhood in San Diego where electric vehicle adoption is notably high. Credit...
SAN DIEGO — Robert Teglia bought a Tesla Model 3 sedan even though he knew it cost more than many luxury cars. He didn’t particularly care that it might be better than the others for the environment.
Mr. Teglia, a commercial real estate appraiser in San Diego, tallied the costs of a gasoline vehicle and a Tesla, and he realized that even after paying more to buy a battery-powered car, he would end up saving money on gas and maintenance.
“I’m a Tesla buyer who didn’t buy it for altruistic reasons,” Mr. Teglia said. “I bought it just because I think it’s awesome.” His wife, Dianne, bought one, too.