“I love that I’m saving money and reducing my carbon footprint at the same time.” – Darshan D.
For Darshan, a recent college graduate in San Diego, getting his first car after school wasn’t just about convenience, it was about opportunity.
“I graduated from SDSU last year and landed my first career job,” he says. “I needed a car that was reliable, affordable, and, honestly, had working AC. My old Jetta didn’t even have that, it was torture during the summer.”
When he heard that the Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) had opened applications in his region, he jumped at the chance. “I applied the day it opened, literally at midnight,” Darshan recalls. “It took about five months from start to finish, but it was absolutely worth the wait.”
In August 2025, he drove off the lot in a 2021 Polestar 2 dual-motor performance edition. “It’s my dream car,” he says. “Because it was used and had depreciated, I was able to afford exactly what I wanted. Plus, with the DCAP grant and a low-interest loan through MAAC, my total costs are really manageable—just $300 a month for the car and $250 for insurance.”
He also received a $2,000 DCAP charge card to use at public stations. “The first time I used it, I snapped a photo (see above), it was such a big moment. Now I just plug in when I’m grocery shopping or at the movies. Charging feels more convenient than gas ever was.”
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