Fourteen years ago, Paul Scott helped me buy my first electric car when everyone thought EVs were golf carts. Today, he's still fighting — but now he's coming for YOU if you're thinking about buying a gas car in 2026.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead
Who Is Paul Scott? (The Man Who Saved 1,000 Electric Cars From The Crusher)
Paul Scott's receipts are not opinions. They are history:
- Starred in Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) — the documentary about GM crushing the EV1
- Prevented 1,000+ EVs from being destroyed — co-founded DontCrush.com (2003)
- Co-founded Plug In America (2005) — the nation's leading EV advocacy organization
- Met with President Obama to push faster EV adoption policies
- Secured $7.5 BILLION in federal EV incentives through lobbying
- Tracks oil industry political spending — $1B+ in 2016, $1B+ in 2024
- Hangs at Santa Monica Rings — teaching gymnastics and EV conversion simultaneously
- Coined "Driving on Sunshine" — solar panels + EV = zero emissions
- Age 49 cancer diagnosis led him to stop waiting and "go clean"
- Still taking calls: 310-403-1303
The EV1 Vigil: When Paul Went to War With GM
In 2003, Paul and activists staged a 24/7 vigil at GM's Burbank plant to prevent the destruction of the EV1 — GM's groundbreaking electric car. They offered $1.9 million to buy 80 EV1s. GM refused. Destroyed them anyway.
Result? Two actresses got arrested. The Washington Post and NY Times covered it. Filmmaker Chris Paine documented everything. And Paul saved 800 Toyota RAV4 EVs through follow-up protests.
Paul doesn't lose every battle. He just never stops fighting.
Find Him: Santa Monica Rings (Original Muscle Beach)
When Paul's not converting people to EVs, find him at Original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica — the outdoor gym with traveling rings, parallel bars, and gymnastic equipment.
1800 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (FREE, open to public). Weekends, especially Sunday mornings. He'll teach you the rings. Then he'll teach you why your next car should be electric.
The Paul Scott EV Belief-Buster Quiz
Be honest. Paul would spot your BS from across the Santa Monica rings. Each "excuse" has been debunked by 400,000+ EV drivers. If you answer YES to any of these, you're carrying outdated beliefs costing you money.
Question 1: Do EVs lack enough range for your daily driving?
Your excuse: "I drive too far for an EV." Paul's receipts: Average American drives 40 miles/day. A 2012 Nissan Leaf (cheapest used EV) has 70-80 mile range. You're lying to yourself.
Question 2: Does charging take too long?
Your excuse: "I don't have time to charge." Paul's receipts: You charge at home overnight while sleeping. Takes 5 seconds to plug in. Gas stations take 10 minutes + driving there. Do the math.
Question 3: Are EVs more expensive than gas cars?
Your excuse: "EVs cost too much." Paul's receipts: A $10,000 used Nissan Leaf costs LESS than a $25,000 new gas car over 5 years. Fuel + maintenance savings = $25K+. See the value equation below.
Question 4: Can the grid handle EVs?
Your excuse: "The power grid will collapse." Paul's receipts: Utilities planned for this for 25 years. Solar/wind integration accelerating. This is oil industry FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt).
Question 5: Are EVs worse for the environment (battery production)?
Your excuse: "Batteries are just as bad as gas." Paul's receipts: Lifecycle analysis shows EVs are cleaner even with the current grid. Solar + EV = 90% carbon reduction. This talking point is oil propaganda.
Question 6: Should you buy a hybrid as a "stepping stone"?
Your excuse: "I'll start with a hybrid first." Paul's receipts: Hybrids still burn petroleum. Two drivetrains = more maintenance. Paul won't validate this. Go 100% electric.
Question 7: Aren't there too few charging stations?
Your excuse: "I can't find chargers." Paul's receipts: Tesla Superchargers cover the entire lower 48 states. You charge at home 95% of the time. This excuse died in 2018.
Question 8: Don't EVs fail in cold weather?
Your excuse: "It gets cold where I live." Paul's receipts: Norwegians drive EVs in actual winter. 20-30% range loss in extreme cold. Gas cars lose efficiency too. Still charge at home.
Question 9: Can't find used EVs in good condition?
Your excuse: "Used EVs are unreliable." Paul's receipts: Thousands available NOW on CarGurus, AutoTrader, Carvana. Batteries last 10+ years. No oil changes, no transmission failures. Simpler = more reliable.
Question 10: Isn't "the technology not ready yet"?
Your excuse: "I'll wait for better EVs." Paul's receipts: It's been ready since 1996 (EV1). The only thing "not ready" is your commitment. Paul bought his first EV in 2002. Technology is ready. Are you?
Scoring: 0-2 YES answers — you're informed, ready to buy. 3-5 YES answers — you're operating on outdated info. 6-10 YES answers — you're actively resisting reality. Paul is tracking you down.
The Math Paul Will Shove In Your Face
Why a $10K Used EV Destroys a $25K+ Gas Car (5-Year Total Cost of Ownership)
| | $10K Used 2015 Nissan Leaf | $25K New Honda Civic | | Purchase | $10,000 | $25,000 | | Fuel (5yr) | $1,500 | $7,143 | | Maintenance | $500 | $4,000 | | Insurance | $4,500 | $5,500 | | Registration | $500 | $750 | | TOTAL | $17,000 | $42,393 |
You save: $25,393. Invest that $25K at 7% annual return = $35,153 after 5 years. The used EV didn't just save money. It created wealth.
FIND MY EV: Budget-Based Shopping Guide
All prices USD, February 2026. Paul's rule: Buy used. Save money. Stop funding oil companies.
$8,000 - $12,000: Entry Level
Best for city driving, second car, commuters under 40 miles/day.
- 2013-2015 Nissan Leaf S (70-85 mi range) — $8,500-11,000 on CarGurus
- 2014-2016 BMW i3 (80-100 mi range) — $10,000-12,000 on AutoTrader
Saves $25K+ vs new gas car over 5 years.
$15,000 - $20,000: The Sweet Spot
Covers 95% of driving needs. No range anxiety.
- 2017-2018 Nissan Leaf (150 mi range) — $15,000-18,000 on Carvana
- 2017-2018 Chevy Bolt (238 mi range) — $16,000-19,500 on CarGurus
Best bang-for-buck. Paul's top recommendation.
$25,000 - $35,000: Premium
Long range, premium experience, zero compromises.
- 2020-2021 Tesla Model 3 SR (260 mi range) — $28,000-33,000 on Tesla Used
- 2019-2020 Chevy Bolt (259 mi range) — $18,000-22,000 on AutoTrader
- 2021-2022 Nissan Leaf Plus (226 mi range) — $22,000-27,000 on Cars.com
Supercharger access (Tesla). Still cheaper than $50K+ gas luxury.
$40,000+: Luxury Performance
Road trips, luxury, performance. Better than any gas car at any price.
- 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3 LR (358 mi range) — $38,000-45,000 on Tesla Used
- 2022-2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 (303 mi range) — $35,000-42,000 Certified Pre-Owned
- 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E (312 mi range) — $38,000-48,000 Certified Pre-Owned
Destroys any $75K+ gas luxury sedan on cost, performance, and fuel.
What Great Leaders Say About People Like Paul
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." — George Bernard Shaw
"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels... the ones who see things differently. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things. Because the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." — Steve Jobs
"A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." — Mahatma Gandhi
"The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion." — Paulo Coelho
Contribute to The Solution, Don't Talk About Why Not
Nobody Cares What You Think. We Care What You KNOW.
Paul doesn't carry opinions. He carries receipts:
- Prevented 1,000+ EVs from being crushed
- Co-founded the nation's leading EV advocacy org
- Secured $7.5B in federal EV incentives
- Met with Obama on EV policy
- Sold hundreds of Nissan Leafs personally
- Tracks oil industry political spending ($1B+)
What are YOUR receipts?
"Stop carrying the baton for something you don't know anything about. I think, I believe — nobody cares. Back it up or the pudding will swallow you like quicksand." — The Paul Scott Standard
Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept)
Step 1: Find Your EV. Use the Budget Finder above. Pick your price range. Click the links. Buy today.
Step 2: Meet Paul. Santa Monica Rings: 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Weekends, especially Sunday mornings. What to say: "Tony sent me." Or call: 310-403-1303.
Step 3: Convert 3 People. Share this page. Show them the math. Be Paul for someone else.
Resources: Everything Paul Built
- Plug In America — Co-founded by Paul (2005)
- Who Killed the Electric Car? — Documentary featuring Paul
- Santa Monica Rings — Where to find Paul
- Federal EV Tax Credit — $7,500 Paul lobbied for
- Find Used EVs on CarGurus — Start shopping now
- Original 2011 Article — My first EV with Paul's help
Paul Scott Won't Let You Buy a Gas Car. And now you know why he's right.
310-403-1303. Still fighting. Still winning. Still teaching rings and electric cars.
"There are two types of people who serve the future: those who burn themselves out lighting the way, and those who carry steady lanterns for the long journey ahead. Both are necessary. Neither is sufficient alone. But only one type changes history." — Tony Greenberg