Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in California - Statistics & facts
California, along with 11 other states, is committed to halting the sale of new petrol-powered cars by 2035. In December 2024, the California Energy Commission approved a 1.4 billion U.S. dollar plan which would make nearly 17,000 new chargers available statewide for electric vehicles over the next four years. However, recommendations from Donald Trump’s transition team contrast with the measures taken at the state-level.
California is not only the U.S.’s largest car market, but also the country’s biggest battery-electric vehicle (BEV) fleet, reporting over four times the volume of BEVs in circulation on Florida’s roads. Despite this, the Golden state was the second U.S. state with the highest transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, contextualizing its efforts to decarbonize its new car registrations.
Los Angeles was also the Californian counties with the largest charging infrastructure network. As of December 2024, J1772 was the most widespread connector type at charging locations across California, followed by locations offering Tesla connectors. Tesla Destination was the third-largest EV charging network in the Golden State, behind non-networked chargers and ChargePoint Network. The prevalence of Tesla chargers is partly due to the brand’s prominence in California. Tesla was not only the Californian fully electric vehicle bestseller in 2023, but was also the second best-selling light vehicle brand across propulsion types in California, only surpassed by Toyota.
California’s electric vehicle market was able to develop thanks to various factors, including the Federal and state-level support for the decarbonization of the Golden state’s transport sector. The market is at its most prolific in highly urban areas, especially Los Angeles, but other counties have also benefited from this support. New policy recommendations could, however, impact the market evolution.
California is not only the U.S.’s largest car market, but also the country’s biggest battery-electric vehicle (BEV) fleet, reporting over four times the volume of BEVs in circulation on Florida’s roads. Despite this, the Golden state was the second U.S. state with the highest transportation-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2022, contextualizing its efforts to decarbonize its new car registrations.
A growing electric vehicle market and charging infrastructure
Electric vehicles (EVs) held nearly a third of the new vehicle market in the Golden State in 2023, and fully electric vehicles were the most popular EV type. Large urban areas tended to be hotspots for new EV sales, with Los Angeles and Orange County recording the most battery-electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales. However, while Los Angeles greatly outpaced other counties in terms of absolute volume of EVs sold, only around a quarter of its total light vehicle sales were zero-emissions vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.Los Angeles was also the Californian counties with the largest charging infrastructure network. As of December 2024, J1772 was the most widespread connector type at charging locations across California, followed by locations offering Tesla connectors. Tesla Destination was the third-largest EV charging network in the Golden State, behind non-networked chargers and ChargePoint Network. The prevalence of Tesla chargers is partly due to the brand’s prominence in California. Tesla was not only the Californian fully electric vehicle bestseller in 2023, but was also the second best-selling light vehicle brand across propulsion types in California, only surpassed by Toyota.
State incentives to boost electric vehicle adoption
California has been heavily investing in its charging infrastructure and financial purchase incentives for consumers to promote the sale of more zero-emission vehicles. In 2023, California received around 81.7 million U.S. dollars from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program to improve its charging network. California also offers extensive incentives for electric vehicle purchase, home charging installation, and electric utility. These include tax credits on leased and purchased vehicles, used clean vehicle credit, and the clean vehicle rebate project, among others. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) issued nearly 90,400 rebates worth an aggregated 330.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Most of the rebates given since the program’s inception were in Los Angeles, as California’s main population and electric vehicle hub.California’s electric vehicle market was able to develop thanks to various factors, including the Federal and state-level support for the decarbonization of the Golden state’s transport sector. The market is at its most prolific in highly urban areas, especially Los Angeles, but other counties have also benefited from this support. New policy recommendations could, however, impact the market evolution.
