A few days after buying his first electric vehicle, Naim Rahim was already thinking of giving it back.

The Valencia resident spent months researching cars, visiting dealerships, test driving models and comparing prices. He and his wife wanted an SUV for their family and initially leaned toward getting another gas-powered vehicle. But after Rahim test-drove an EV, the quiet ride, quick acceleration and technology won him over.

“I've always loved innovation, and an EV has so much of that built into it,” he said. “The more I experienced the technology, the more I knew I wanted one.”

From there, his search shifted to finding an EV that fit their budget. Eventually, he found a pre-owned 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ advertised for about $26,000. But by the time Rahim reached the finance office, thousands of dollars in unexpected costs, including extended warranties and other add-ons, had been tacked on to the transaction.

“I was going through a rough financial situation at that point,” Rahim said. “I wanted to keep the EV, but with the added costs, I wasn’t sure I could afford to keep it.”

As Rahim wrestled with the idea of returning the EV, he saw an ad on social media that caught his attention. Southern California Edison shared that income-qualified customers who purchased or leased an eligible pre-owned EV could receive up to $4,000 back through the Pre-Owned EV Rebate Plus program.

“The timing seemed almost too convenient,” he said. “I thought maybe this was a scam because I had already bought the car. But once I looked into it, I realized it was a real program and actually available to people in my situation.”

After submitting the required income documentation, he was approved for the full $4,000 rebate. “That $4,000 was a huge help for me,” he said. “It took a lot of the pressure off, and now I drive it every day for everything I need to do.”

And while he lives in a condominium without an at-home charger, there are public stations around Valencia where he can plug in.

The Cadillac has quickly become the family’s favorite car, especially for Rahim’s 1 1/2-year-old daughter. When he reaches into the Cadillac for her stroller before their afternoon walks, she often points to the car instead, wanting to go for a ride.

“She loves riding in it. To her, it’s like being in a spaceship,” Rahim said. “I even ordered a license plate with her name on it.”