Mary Nichols: Discussing Her Thoughts On The EV Revolution With Women From Across The Industry
S Curve Strategies recently joined Mary Nichols, former chair of the California Air Resources Board, and the Women in EVs in a lively discussion about the leaps women have made in the transportation electrification industry.
As conversations around clean air and climate change take center stage, few individuals have been as influential in shaping policy as Nichols. With a career spanning over 45 years, this environmental attorney and policymaker has left an indelible mark not just in California but also on the national and international front. She has worn many hats—CARB chair, California’s Secretary for Natural Resources, and a prominent staff member in various esteemed environmental organizations.
“I’m a big believer that the test of your life will be the way you’re going to be looked at by others as well as by yourself. You’ll find it’s not the promotions you’ve received, but the quality of the life that you led. ”
When looking at the future of the EV industry, Nichols highlighted the practical implications of the EV revolution. “It seems to me that just from where money is being spent, in the focus is getting the infrastructure in place,” she said. “It's going to be about local land use planning, how to make the charging process more efficient, less time-consuming, and more secure." S Curve Strategies agrees – which is why this is where our company services are focused. Nichols is no stranger to public service. She served on CARB under Governors Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Gavin Newsom. Her tenure at CARB was so impactful that she occupied the attorney seat for over a decade across multiple administrations—a testament to her expertise and bipartisan appeal. Between her periods of state service, Nichols also served as the Assistant Administrator for the U.S. EPA's Office of Air and Radiation during the Clinton Administration and held the role of California's Secretary for Natural Resources from 1999 to 2003 under Governor Gray Davis.
When not working for the State of California, Nichols took her talents to esteemed organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she served as a senior staff attorney. Her influence also extended to academia, where she led the Institute of Environment and Sustainability at UCLA, inspiring future generations of changemakers in the industry. Nichols recently spoke to the Women in Electric Vehicles group, emphasizing that success isn't just about professional accomplishments: "I'm a big believer that the test of your life will be the way you're going to be looked at by others as well as by yourself. You’ll find it’s not the promotions you've received, but the quality of the life that you led."
Nichols' contributions to clean air in California are monumental. She played a pivotal role in crafting California's internationally recognized climate action plan. But, as she shared with Women in EVs, the road to an electric future wasn't easy: "It's now just the accepted reality that the future of transportation is electric. You had to have a combination of science and engineering and public policy and plain old marketing ability."
Her groundbreaking work in zero-emission vehicles makes her one of the leading champions of electric transportation. "The electric vehicle is more than just a car. It really will have transformational impacts," she explained. Under her leadership, California set ambitious goals and provided incentives that paved the way for the growth of the EV sector.
As we look to the future of environmental policy, both in California and nationally, Nichols' work serves as a gold standard for impactful, science-based action. Her legacy reminds us that with informed policy-making and unyielding commitment, we can indeed build a cleaner, more sustainable world for generations to come.