There are about 3.3 million electric cars on the road in the U.S., according to an Experian Automotive Market Trends report from the fourth quarter of 2023. This number is up from 2 million electric vehicles in 2022 and 1.3 million in 2021, but overall EVs account for just over 1% of the total light-duty vehicles currently on U.S. roads. While EVs are gaining traction, they are still a long way from catching up to gas-powered vehicles, which make up the remaining 285 million vehicles currently in operation.
How Many Electric Cars Are There in the U.S.?
The latest stats on EV sales and registrations in 2024
written by Ronald MontoyaSenior Consumer Advice Editor & Content StrategyRonald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at Edmunds and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.- 1/5/2024(updated 3/22/2024)
Am I Ready for an EV?
- EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.
- If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.
- Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.
EV sales in the U.S.
From an EV sales perspective, there were 1,077,138 EVs sold in 2023, according to Edmunds sales data. This figure accounts for about 6.9% of new vehicle purchases. By comparison, there were 13,061,153 gas vehicles sold in 2023.
| Sales volume | EV | Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | Internal combustion engine (ICE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 54,179 | 318,878 | 12,530 | 17,086,650 |
| 2016 | 70,466 | 346,816 | 16,984 | 17,124,945 |
| 2017 | 94,626 | 369,729 | 38,595 | 16,727,920 |
| 2018 | 206,365 | 430,421 | 54,519 | 16,620,333 |
| 2019 | 225,741 | 590,445 | 56,482 | 16,186,224 |
| 2020 | 233,330 | 577,803 | 38,658 | 13,705,565 |
| 2021 | 389,410 | 757,433 | 78,883 | 13,790,304 |
| 2022 | 713,145 | 754,772 | 113,743 | 12,200,411 |
| 2023 | 1,077,138 | 1,242,608 | 177,081 | 13,061,153 |
Source: Edmunds sales data
EV sales for 2023 eclipsed 2022's numbers, when 713,145 vehicles were sold during the calendar year. And since 2018, electric car sales have increased by 422%. That said, Edmunds analysts have noted that the transition to full EVs has slowed, as hybrids currently appear to be the more comfortable choice for the majority of Americans seeking electrified options. This means that we're not likely to see the same explosive growth in the coming year.
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See Electric Vehicle RebatesHow many electric cars are registered in the U.S.?
There were over 2.4 million electric vehicles registered in 2022, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Energy. California had the greatest number of electric vehicle registrations, by a wide margin (903,620), followed by Florida (167,990), Texas (149,000), Washington (104,050) and New Jersey (87,030).
Electric Vehicle Registrations by State
| State | Registration count |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 8,730 |
| Alaska | 1,970 |
| Arizona | 65,780 |
| Arkansas | 5,140 |
| California | 903,620 |
| Colorado | 59,910 |
| Connecticut | 22,030 |
| Delaware | 5,390 |
| District of Columbia | 5,860 |
| Florida | 167,990 |
| Georgia | 60,120 |
| Hawaii | 19,760 |
| Idaho | 5,940 |
| Illinois | 66,880 |
| Indiana | 17,710 |
| Iowa | 6,220 |
| Kansas | 7,550 |
| Kentucky | 7,560 |
| Louisiana | 5,880 |
| Maine | 4,990 |
| Maryland | 46,060 |
| Massachusetts | 49,440 |
| Michigan | 33,150 |
| Minnesota | 24,330 |
| Mississippi | 2,420 |
| Missouri | 17,870 |
| Montana | 3,260 |
| Nebraska | 4,570 |
| Nevada | 32,950 |
| New Hampshire | 6,990 |
| New Jersey | 87,030 |
| New Mexico | 7,080 |
| New York | 84,670 |
| North Carolina | 45,590 |
| North Dakota | 640 |
| Ohio | 34,060 |
| Oklahoma | 16,290 |
| Oregon | 46,980 |
| Pennsylvania | 47,440 |
| Rhode Island | 4,340 |
| South Carolina | 13,490 |
| South Dakota | 1,170 |
| Tennessee | 22,040 |
| Texas | 149,000 |
| Utah | 28,050 |
| Vermont | 5,260 |
| Virginia | 56,610 |
| Washington | 104,050 |
| West Virginia | 1,870 |
| Wisconsin | 15,700 |
| Wyoming | 840 |
| Total | 2,442,270 |
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory with data from Experian Information Solutions as of December 31, 2022
From an individual model perspective, the Tesla Model Y was the EV with the most vehicle registrations, placing in third place overall under the Ford F-150 and Toyota RAV4, according to Experian. The Tesla Model 3 also made the top 20 most registered vehicles, sitting in 12th place between the gas-powered Ram 1500 and the Honda Civic.
Which manufacturer has the highest EV sales?
Tesla sells the most electric vehicles in the U.S. by a wide margin. This metric is often called "market share," which is the percentage a given brand represents in the overall market. Take a look at our related article called "What Is the Percentage of Electric Cars in the U.S.?" for more detailed information on which other brands have the highest market share.
Edmunds says
Electric vehicles have come a long way in recent years. While sales are starting to slow a bit, there is still plenty of interest from shoppers who have been on the fence and perhaps waiting for prices to drop. Several new models are on the horizon and soon there will be even more EVs on the road. If you're in need of an EV now, take a look at our list of the best electric cars, as rated by our expert test team.