Marin County drivers continue to be among the leaders in buying electric vehicles, helping California flex its spending power for an industry that is gaining a stronger foothold every year.

That’s great news for slowing the impacts of climate change.

Recent data from the California Energy Commission shows the market share for electric vehicles in Marin County was 40.1% in 2024. The rate places Marin at No. 2 among the 58 counties in the state. The county’s rate has increased steadily for more than a decade.

Scientists continue to show research illustrating that damage to Earth’s atmosphere caused by human behavior is accelerating. Gas-burning engines in cars are a significant contributor to greenhouse gases and pollution that can cause health problems.

Of course, the decision-making process of climate-wise car buyers looking for an electric vehicle got a little more complicated in 2025.

Tesla, the luxury EV of choice for many in Marin County, has come under fire since CEO Elon Musk created the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency with President Donald Trump’s blessing as a “special government employee.”

The protests, not all of them peaceful, have drawn activists hoping to dissuade would-be buyers in some parts of the country. Marin protesters gather near the Corte Madera showroom on weekends. The sign-waving crowds have been in the hundreds, according to reports.

They have the right to stand up against Musk’s “move fast and break things” decision-making process with government services. It makes sense to do so by urging buyers to look elsewhere. But it should not be at the expense of the momentum Marin County has helped build in the EV community.

Leadership at the state level is still pushing for a buildout of charging infrastructure. It continues to study ways of providing the electricity needed as more drivers convert. And, while Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order that “all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California be zero-emission vehicles” by 2035 seems less realistic (for now), the sentiment remains:

Convincing as many drivers as possible to use an electric vehicle is the most direct way for our society to thoughtfully address a daily behavior that, right now, is causing harm to our environment.

It’s a message that, for many Marin residents, has traditionally been easy to understand and apply.

The California Air Resources Board is convinced progress is being made. Locally, Carleen Cullen’s Ride and Drive Clean collaboration of nonprofit organizations, agencies, cities, schools and businesses is a visible constant at EV-friendly events in Marin and around the Bay Area.

Cullen and others are doing the good work to show that making the leap isn’t so scary.

As technology advances and infrastructure stabilizes, Marin drivers need to stay curious. The EV market is filled with economic and reliable brands, as well as a broad spectrum of luxury brands. Bay Area roads represent the vast array. As the industry continues to improve and evolve, the power behind climate-aware Marin buyers will make a difference.