Fact #796: September 9, 2013 Electric Vehicle and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Sales History

Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have been available in the U.S. in limited numbers for many years. The introduction of the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt at the end of 2010 mark the beginning of mainstream plug-in vehicle sales in the U.S. market. The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf have continued to account for a large share of the plug-in vehicle sales through the second quarter of 2013. However, newer models introduced in 2012 have begun to capture a sizeable share of the plug-in market. Though still a tiny fraction of overall vehicle sales, the growth in plug-in vehicle sales tripled from 2011 to 2012 and the first two quarters of 2013 plug-in vehicle sales were just below total sales for all of 2012.

Plug-In and Electric Vehicle Sales by Quarters (In Order of Market Introduction)
Image

Supporting Information

Plug-In and Electric Vehicle Sales (In Order of Market Introduction)
Quarter & YearVoltLeafSmart EDMitsubishi I EVBMW Active EPrius PHEVFord FocusHonda Fit EVTesla Model S*RAV4 EVFord
C-Max Energi		Honda AccordFord Fusion EnergiChevrolet SparkTotalCumulative
Q4201032619            345345
Q120111,21045232           1,6942,039
Q220111,5353,4238           4,9667,005
Q320111,1503,3242           4,47611,481
Q420113,7762,47530076          6,62718,108
Q120123,9151,7332136553911        7,25025,358
Q220124,9021,4151271971203,43595       10,29135,649
Q320127,5312,064710603,3871313225061    13,56949,218
Q420127,1134,6073149-25,016457612,1501312,374   22,05971,277
Q120134,2443,539262502,353419464,7502101,16645414 17,81389,090
Q220135,6116,30011325701,8614812455,9001981,3161551,1702723,634112,724
Total41,31329,3515961,54667116,9631,58338413,0506004,8562001,58427112,724 

*Tesla Model S numbers are estimated.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Visualizing Electric Vehicle Sales, accessed August 9, 2013.

Return to 2013 Facts of the Week