She may be able to make it, but inevitably there will be days when she'll need to charge. On the positive side, there is a CCS charger at the Whole Foods on Gilman just below San Pablo Avenue, but you'd have to hope it's both working and not in use when she wanted it on the way home, or else eat/shop for a while until it's available. There are also CCS chargers in San Rafael and Novato along 101- see http://www.plugshare.com/ , and follow the directions found here, http://www.mychevysparkev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3643
in my and Nashco's posts on the first page, to view the CCS chargers. The downside is that NRG chargers are quite expensive per kWh (considerably more than gas at the moment), although she'd only be topping up a few kWh and doing the rest of her charging at home. Bottom line, it can be made to work, but she'd have to be willing to put up with the occasional inconvenience, and that inconvenience will increase as the battery ages. The fact that I-80 and 101 are often parking lots during morning and evening commutes will help, although she'd be able to use the HOV lanes on both. Even so, ISTR that the HOV lanes are often moving at only 45-55 mph, which will considerably boost the car's range. Rain/wind/heater/defroster use will lower it.
For a hassle-free commute, I'd recommend a Volt or other PHEV which will allow you to get a green HOV sticker (for a few months yet), even though you'll still be burning some gas (if you find a place to charge during the day, maybe not). If she can find someplace to get a guaranteed L2 charge (maybe even L1) in Berkeley during work hours, then the Spark will be fine, but lease rather than buy in any case, as she really wants a longer range BEV for that commute. Plugshare does show four public L2 EVSEs within walking distance of UCB, the question is whether you can guarantee that a spot will be available at them. You should find the sites and have her check out the one(s) most convenient for her to see how busy they are.
Alternatively, opt for a Soul EV or maybe an e-Golf, or else wait a year or so until the longer range 'affordable' BEVs start to arrive, because you really want a car that will allow the whole round trip to be done on one charge year round for many years, without worry.
