Abstract
As a leader in clean transportation initiatives, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has long offered several benefit programs that support residents with the transition to electric vehicles, including the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program (CVAP) and Access Clean California (ACC). CVAP, which operated from 2018-2024, provided grants and loan financing to help low-income households purchase or lease electric vehicles. ACC, launched in 2018, uses an extensive statewide community outreach network of community-based organizations (CBOs) to connect eligible residents with a range of clean transportation and energy benefits. While there is substantial knowledge about the distributive equity outcomes of many of the state’s clean transportation programs, procedural equity—ensuring inclusivity in design, outreach, and other aspects of implementation—remains less explored. This study examined procedural equity in these two programs, selected for their innovative program designs and priorities beyond those of more long-standing, pure vehicle purchase credit or rebate approaches.
