Electric vehicle sales in California on the rise--but is it enough to reach the 5M goal by 2030?
While overall sales for new cars in California dipped in the third quarter, the combined market share for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in the Golden State continued to grow. But is the increase moving at a quick enough pace to reach the goal set by state policymakers for 5 million zero-carbon emission vehicles on Californias roads by 2030?
Overall registrations for light duty vehicles (cars, pickup trucks and SUVs) dropped 5.1 percent in California through the first nine months of the year compared to the first three quarters of 2018. But electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid sales increased to 7.9 percent in combined market share during that time frame.
Hybrids without a plug-in are not considered zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, and do not count toward the states target of 5 million but if their 5.5 percent of market share is added, the combined percentage of electric vehicles and all hybrids comes to 13.4 percent for the third quarter, an all-time high.
These numbers pretty much track with what weve been seeing, and are a continuing sign that theres a healthy ZEV market developing in California and that the states ZEV goals are achievable, said Dave Clegern, public information officer for the California Air Resources Board, the state agency in charge of improving air quality.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-11-26/electric-vehicle-sales-in-california-on-the-rise-but-is-it-enough-to-reach-the-5-million-goal-by-2030