Project Overview
The transition to electrified transportation and energy systems is a pivotal component of California’s strategy to combat climate change. However, the success of this transition depends not only on technological advancements but also on data accessibility, financial viability, and equitable adoption across diverse communities.
Our hypothesis is that by enhancing access to localized data on electric vehicle (EV) adoption, residential electrification, and their correlated impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, we can empower communities to make informed decisions about energy usage and infrastructure investment. Through the development of user-friendly dashboards, we aim to provide clear, actionable insights that show cost savings, environmental benefits, and equitable distribution.
Our work is grounded in the understanding that socioeconomic disparities and lack of awareness have hindered the widespread adoption of electrification solutions and addressing these challenges requires a data-driven, community-centered approach.
Our Focus Areas
To explore this hypothesis, our project focuses on two interconnected themes:
- Residential Electrification: We analyze the economic and environmental trade-offs associated with switching from natural gas to electric appliances, such as heat pumps and induction stoves. Our dashboard simulates how factors like electricity rates, home heating efficiency, and local climate conditions influence cost savings and emissions reductions.
- EV Adoption: We evaluate the barriers that different communities face in transitioning to electric transportation. By leveraging historical data on EV sales, charging infrastructure availability, and regional income levels, we identify opportunities for increasing adoption. We conduct this analysis on county-level and zip code-level data.
Our Mission
Taking an integrated approach is important to ensure that California’s shift to electric vehicles does not reinforce existing economic and environmental inequalities. Although electrification offers long-term savings and climate benefits, access to those benefits is still far from equal.
By making data more transparent and actionable, we hope to highlight disparities and help communities make decisions that balance cost and sustainability. Ultimately, this work is about closing the gap between technology, implementation, and everyday decision making so the shift to clean energy is effective, equitable, and inclusive.
Authors