California, a leading state in U.S. eco-friendly vehicle policy, is also at the forefront of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) initiatives. Under the slogan of ZEV Leadership, the state is actively implementing policies and driving investments. This confidence is reflected in the state’s electric vehicle sales.
According to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the California Energy Commission, the sales of zero-emission vehicles in California have increased by 1022% over the past decade. In the third quarter of 2023, the sales ratio of zero-emission vehicles hit a record high of 26.7%, which is 8.7% points higher than the overall U.S. sales ratio of 18%. In 2023, the ratio of zero-emission vehicles to total new car sales in California was 25%, indicating that one in every four new cars sold was a zero-emission vehicle.
The sales of zero-emission vehicles in the first quarter of 2024 are particularly remarkable. During this period, a total of 102,507 zero-emission vehicles were sold in California, marking the highest quarterly sales record ever. Among them, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for the largest proportion with 85,975 units (83.9%), followed by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with 16,335 units (15.9%), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) with 197 units (0.2%).
California also achieved its goal ahead of schedule of selling 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles, set in 2012. The original target was 2025, but the state surpassed this goal by two years in 2023. This achievement is attributed to a surge in sales following the 2020 gubernatorial executive order to fill all new car sales with zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Over the past decade, sales have increased by a whopping 1022%.
The construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure also contributed to the increase in zero-emission vehicle sales. Since the announcement of the executive order, 94,000 public and shared electric vehicle chargers have been installed across California. Furthermore, in February, the California government announced a new investment plan of $1.9 billion to install 40,000 new public electric vehicle chargers, demonstrating their commitment to establishing the most extensive zero-emission vehicle charging network in the U.S.
While many believe that the direction of U.S. zero-emission vehicle and infrastructure policy may change depending on the winner of the November U.S. presidential election, the California government continues to push its zero-emission vehicle policy regardless. California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized, “No other state in America is working harder than California to make the future of zero emissions a reality,” and “California is setting the standard for climate action.”
Meanwhile, since the inauguration of the Biden administration, the number of electric vehicle charging stations available for public use on U.S. roads has been recorded at approximately 182,000. This indicates an increase of over 90% compared to before Biden took office.
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