Veloz, the nonprofit behind California’s “Electric For All” outreach, is taking the program national with Electrify America committing $43.5 million in funding, the largest nonprofit EV education drive yet. The bilingual campaign lands as U.S. battery electric sales rose 11.4 % to almost 300,000 units in Q1 2025, even while a key federal tax credit is scheduled to expire Sept. 30.
Lawmakers are debating whether to let the $7,500 Clean Vehicle Credit lapse, a move EV advocates say would dampen demand just as mainstream shoppers begin cross shopping electric models. Electric For All counters with online tools in 15 languages that show household level savings, local incentives and charging maps.
Worldwide, plug in vehicles are on pace to capture one in four new car sales this year, according to BloombergNEF’s 2025 Electric Vehicle Outlook. Yet the U.S. still accounts for just 7% of global EV demand, making consumer education crucial, Veloz Executive Director Josh Boone noted in a news release.
What It Means for Collision Shops
For body shop operators, the drive toward electrification is both a challenge and an opportunity. Electric vehicles averaged $1,030 more per repair than internal combustion cars in 2024, with labor rates roughly 30 % higher, according to CCC Intelligent Solutions’ Q1 2025 Crash Course Report. Extra hours stem from battery isolation, high voltage safety checks and post collision diagnostics — work that insurers increasingly reimburse, but only when properly documented.
The same CCC study shows EV repairs averaging four additional labor hours and 22 replacement parts, underscoring the need for certified technicians and insulated tooling. Shops that invest in Level 2 charging for post repair testing and bring high voltage disconnects in house can shave days off cycle time, CCC said in the same report.
Reaching Underserved Communities
Veloz said more than a third of campaign dollars will go to multilingual ads aimed at low income ZIP codes where awareness of incentives is lowest. President and CEO Robert Barrosa of Electrify America called access and education “the gateway to cleaner air and healthier communities.”
The spots feature Ford’s Mustang Mach E and F 150 Lightning, along with comparative tools covering 90 current EV nameplates. “Supporting education around electric vehicles is key to helping more drivers see what’s possible,” said Cynthia Williams, Ford’s global sustainability director and a Veloz board member.
The nonprofit will stage ride and drive events in 20 cities through 2026 and refresh content as new models launch. Barrosa said the goal is to “empower consumers nationally with the knowledge they need to confidently choose zero emission vehicles.” For collision repair businesses eyeing a surge of battery electric traffic, that empowerment could arrive sooner than expected.
