California Leads U.S. in Electric Vehicle Ownership
California reports the highest electric vehicle ownership rate in the U.S., while state officials sue the Trump administration over fuel economy rollbacks.
California leads the United States in electric vehicle ownership, with 13.8% of households owning an EV compared to a national average of 5.5%. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Santa Clara County has the highest ownership rate in the nation at 24.1%, followed by Marin and San Mateo counties at 21.4%. The data highlights a disparity in adoption, with 17.7% of homeowners owning an EV compared to 8.9% of renters.
To increase adoption, the state launched the MyFirstEV rebate program in August, providing up to $3,500 for new vehicles and $1,750 for used ones. The California Energy Commission reports that zero-emission vehicles now represent approximately 18% of passenger vehicle sales in the state this year.
These developments occur amid a legal conflict between state and federal authorities. Rob Bonta, the Attorney General of California, led a lawsuit involving approximately two dozen states against the administration of Donald Trump. The lawsuit challenges the federal government's rollback of fuel economy standards, as California continues to pursue its own zero-emission vehicle sales requirements.
