Why Have Electric Vehicle Sales In California Shot Up Where The First Half Of This Year Stands?

Ever wondered as to how might be the status of the electric vehicle sales in California? Well, here’s what you got to know.

It appears that at the present moment, the electric vehicle sales in California are experiencing a period of hitherto unseen bloom. But then, this is something that at the end of the day, may not come up as a hugely surprising scenario given that implicit in this positive development stands inarguably, the most popular maker of electric cars.

When the latest piece of statistics pertaining to electric vehicle sales in California, it spelt a great joy for those who’ve forever wished for a huge turnaround in the face of urban transport. The first half of this year, it was revealed, turned out to be spectacular in the context of the electric vehicle sales in California.

So how is that?

Well, stats found out that in the first half of the year the electric vehicle sales in California shot up by as much as 63.7%. And when talks about the total units of the vehicles, then it is believed that as many as 51,750 units – in all- were sold all across California much of the development coming at the back of Tesla’s power.

Among the publications that quickly latched on this positive bit of news was the famous LA Times that published:

“California is the largest green market in the country,” said Jessica Caldwell, market analyst at Edmunds. The state accounts for nearly half of the 105,472 pure EVs sold nationwide. “But EVs are still a tough market, even in California.”

It would also go on to add, “Dealers sold nearly 950,000 new automobiles statewide in the first six months of 2019, according to the California New Car Dealers Assn. About 13% of them were “electrified” in some form — pure EV, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid.”

But in lines with the above, it is also important to note that the overall sales of the gasoline-fueled cars have dropped down drastically. Specifically, in California, the sales of Gasoline-fueled vehicles have dropped by around 7.3 per cent. Now experts have also suggested what might be the reason(s) behind the dramatic development.

Some are of the view that the sales of gasoline-fueled cars have dropped due to the rising electrification of cars as well as the competition in the electric car trajectory. Furthermore, another contributing reason to this drop-down (in sales) scenario could be attributed to the general downturn in the sales of automobiles that could, in effect, be linked to a global slowdown, something that the world is yet to witness in its full wake.

Without Tesla, pure EV sales would be limp. About 33,000 Model 3s were sold in California in the first half. The next-highest seller was Chevrolet’s Bolt EV, at 4,482 cars, followed by the Tesla Model X (3,690) and the Tesla Model S (3,390.) The Nissan Leaf sold 2,034 units.

But all the above told, what’s most important is that the automakers around the world are working closely with the policymakers in their bid to increase the production and therefore, subsequent sales of electric cars. Because where it stands at this point in time, then the number 1 priority for all carmakers is to help contribute to lessening the pollution and relieve global warming, the dominant discourse of our times.

Although, the key aspect, it ought to be said, in the adoption of the electric cars from conventional cars eventually boils down to the rate of the transition; i.e., how sooner can an individual adapt to an electric car. And implicit in this transition stand some key facets that, it may not be incorrect to suggest, have affected its overall pace since factors like battery price and the fact that EVs, it’s been seen, cost more than conventional cars. But maybe viable change is on its way to lead to better implementation.