California’s ZEV Sales Surge
California is witnessing an electric vehicle (EV) boom! Sales of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) are skyrocketing, hitting a historic high in the first quarter of 2024.
In the initial three months of the year, Californians bought a staggering 102,507 ZEVs. This figure represents the highest first-quarter sales ever recorded, even though there was a slight dip in the ZEV sales percentage compared to the previous quarter.
This achievement comes as California has already surpassed its goals for zero-emission truck and vehicle sales, achieving these milestones two years ahead of schedule. Furthermore, the state exceeded its target of 10,000 fast EV chargers over a year early. The success of California’s initiatives has made ZEVs a key export, stimulating significant advancements in manufacturing and job creation. Remarkably, California is home to 60 ZEV manufacturers.
“The EV transition is in full swing with nearly one in four California car shoppers choosing to go electric over the last year resulting in record sales,” commented David Hochschild, Chair of the California Energy Commission. “This is good news for all Californians as our success delivers cleaner air statewide and drives significant investment in our emerging zero-emission vehicle industry.”
With the state approaching two million ZEV sales, considerable investments are being made to meet the predicted infrastructure demands. Last year, Governor Newsom approved a bill that extends the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Clean Transportation Program. It also provides a dedicated funding source for electric vehicle (EV) charging, extending through 2035.
To enhance the EV charging experience, the CEC recently proposed the first state-level regulations for EV charger reliability and reporting. The proposal includes a performance-based standard that will apply to all new publicly funded EV chargers. These chargers will be required to disclose operational data, helping drivers make informed decisions on when and where to charge their EVs.
Graphic illustrating California’s ZEV sales data.
California ZEV Sales Highlights:
- 23.9% of all new cars sold in California last quarter were ZEVs, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC).
- 102,507 ZEV sales in Q1 of 2024.
- 1,872,429 total ZEV sales to date.
- 34% of new ZEVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California, according to the California Air Resources Board.
Thousands of dollars in grants and rebates are available for low-income Californians. You can find more information at ClimateAction.ca.gov or ElectricForAll.org. California has also installed over 105,000 public or shared private electric vehicle chargers, in addition to over 500,000 at-home chargers. The state has also approved a $1.9 billion plan to build a more extensive charging network. These statistics underscore the strong momentum and expansion of the ZEV market in the Golden State.
About the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is at the forefront, leading the state towards a 100 percent clean energy future. They have seven principal responsibilities: developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, increasing energy efficiency, investing in energy innovation, advancing state energy policy, certifying thermal power plants, and preparing for energy emergencies.
