California Passed 2.5 Million Cumulative New Zero‑Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Sales in 2025

The California Energy Commission (CEC) reported this week that cumulative new zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales in the state surpassed 2.5 million in 2025.

Under CEC accounting, the ZEV category includes battery-electric vehicles, fuel-cell electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrids, despite the latter not being strictly zero-emission. Even so, the milestone highlights the rapid expansion of California’s plug-in vehicle market. Since the end of 2019, cumulative ZEV sales have increased by more than 300%, driven by a combination of state clean-transportation policies, financial incentives, and sustained consumer demand.

“No state in the union can match California’s five‑year growth in ZEV sales,” California Energy commissioner Nancy Skinner said. “Each quarter, even in the face of increasing federal headwinds, tens of thousands of consumers are purchasing a ZEV in the Golden State, enjoying a great driving experience, and knowing they never have to go to a gas station again.”

California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez echoed that momentum, noting that global EV adoption continues to rise even as U.S. federal support has softened. “Governor Newsom’s new rebate proposal sends a clear message: California isn’t slowing down, we’re still leading the pack,” Sanchez said. “This isn’t just about clean air; it’s smart economic policy.”

Q4 Sales Remained Resilient Despite Loss of Federal Incentives

In the fourth quarter of 2025, Californians purchased 79,066 new ZEVs, representing 18.9% of all new-vehicle sales in the state. That performance is notable given that federal ZEV incentives expired on September 30, 2025, weighing on EV demand nationally. Buyers in California could choose from 149 ZEV models in Q4 2025, reflecting a far broader selection than in prior years.

By comparison, Cox Automotive reported that ZEVs accounted for just 5.8% of new-vehicle sales nationwide in Q4, down sharply from 10.5% in Q3.

To sustain demand, Governor Gavin Newsom’s preliminary budget released January 9 proposes a $200 million incentive program aimed at supporting EV adoption and U.S. auto innovation amid what the state characterizes as heightened federal policy uncertainty.

California Charging Infrastructure Continues to Expand

California now hosts more than 200,000 public and shared private EV charging stations, and the state estimates roughly 800,000 chargers have been installed in homes. Infrastructure deployment is set to continue in 2026. In its latest Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan update, the CEC allocated $98.5 million for light-duty ZEV infrastructure in fiscal year 2025–26.

While program details are still being finalized, much of the funding is expected to prioritize Level 1 and Level 2 charging in locations where vehicles park for extended periods, particularly homes and multifamily housing.

Later this year, the CEC plans to release several key infrastructure assessments, including updates on ZEV infrastructure funding tied to the $98.5 million allocation, the third Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Assessment required under Assembly Bill 2127, and the next Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Assessment mandated by SB 1000, which evaluates whether charging infrastructure is being deployed equitably across California.

California’s Climate Leadership

Pollution is down and the economy is up. Greenhouse gas emissions in California are down 20% since 2000 – even as the state’s GDP increased 78% in that same time period all while becoming the world’s fourth largest economy. 

The state also continues to set clean energy records. California was powered by two-thirds clean energy in 2023, the latest year for which data is available – the largest economy in the world to achieve this level of clean energy. The state has run on 100% clean electricity for some part of the day almost every day this year.